States sue TikTok, claiming its platform is addictive and harms the mental health of children
SUMMARY
More than a dozen states, along with the District of Columbia, have filed lawsuits against TikTok, accusing the app of harming children’s mental health by making its platform addictive. The lawsuits, initiated from a 2022 national investigation, claim that TikTok's algorithm is designed to keep children engaged for extended periods, leading to issues like anxiety and depression. States like New York, California, and New Jersey highlight features such as endless scrolling, push notifications, and face filters that contribute to this addiction. The complaints also allege that children can easily bypass the platform’s age restrictions, gaining access to content meant for adults. The lawsuits further accuse TikTok of running an unlicensed virtual economy by profiting from financial transactions within its platform. TikTok could face a U.S. ban by January 2024 if its parent company ByteDance doesn't sell the platform, and it is also fighting similar lawsuits on data privacy violations.
