TikTok sued by US states over allegedly harming 'teen mental health'

A group of 14 US states filed lawsuits against TikTok, accusing the social media platform of contributing to a mental health crisis among teenagers.

The bipartisan coalition, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, alleges that TikTok uses addictive features to keep young users engaged and misleads the public about the platform’s safety for minors.

The lawsuits claim TikTok's design, including endless scrolling, push notifications disrupting sleep, and harmful beauty filters, has led to increased feelings of sadness, anxiety, and depression among teens.

James highlighted the dangers of TikTok "challenges," which encourage risky behavior. For example, a 15-year-old boy in New York died after attempting a "subway surfing" stunt he saw on the app.

The states argue that TikTok's focus on profits, particularly from targeted ads to teenagers, comes at the expense of young users' mental health.

They also accuse TikTok of violating child privacy laws by failing to prevent children under 13 from using the platform.

In response, TikTok rejected the allegations, calling the lawsuits "inaccurate and misleading."

The company stated it has implemented safety measures like screen time limits and content moderation tools to protect teens. However, the attorneys general claim these measures are insufficient.

This lawsuit adds to the legal challenges TikTok faces in the US, where it has been under scrutiny over concerns about data privacy and its potential ban if its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, does not sell the app.

Similar legal actions have been brought against other social media giants like Facebook and Instagram for their impact on young users' mental health.

The lawsuits seek financial penalties against TikTok and aim to halt the platform’s harmful practices.

Previously, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also filed a lawsuit against TikTok, accusing the platform of violating the state's child safety law, the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act (SCOPE).

Paxton alleges TikTok mishandles minors' personal data and that its "Family Pairing" feature, designed to let parents monitor their children’s accounts, is inadequate.

He claims the system doesn’t properly verify parental identity and gives minors too much control. TikTok denies the accusations, asserting that its safeguards, including the criticized feature, effectively protect teens and families.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released data linking frequent social media use among teens to increased negative mental health outcomes.

There has been growing pressure on tech companies to address these concerns.