TikTok Accused of Exploiting Youth for Corporate Gain
On Tuesday, TikTok found itself at the center of a new legal battle, facing lawsuits from 13 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. The complaints accuse the popular social media platform of causing harm to young users and failing to provide adequate protection for them. These separate lawsuits were filed in states like New York, California, and 11 others, expanding TikTok’s existing legal challenges with U.S. regulators and aiming to impose further financial penalties on the company.
The core of the lawsuits focuses on TikTok’s alleged use of addictive software designed to keep children glued to the app. According to the lawsuits, TikTok’s content moderation has been misrepresented, with the platform intentionally targeting young audiences to increase their screen time for higher advertising revenues. California Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized this in his statement, saying, “TikTok cultivates social media addiction to boost corporate profits. They intentionally target children because kids lack the defenses to create healthy boundaries around addictive content.”
New York Attorney General Letitia James echoed these concerns, stating that social media platforms like TikTok are contributing to a growing mental health crisis among young people due to their addictive nature.
TikTok Responds to Allegations
In response to the lawsuits, TikTok firmly rejected the claims. A spokesperson for the platform expressed disappointment that the states chose to take legal action rather than collaborate to address industry-wide challenges. TikTok stated that many of the accusations are “inaccurate and misleading” and emphasized that the platform has implemented various safety features to protect young users, such as default screen time limits and privacy defaults for minors under 16.
Despite these claims, TikTok continues to face scrutiny over its practices. Washington D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb accused TikTok of operating an unlicensed money transmission business through its live streaming and virtual currency features. Schwalb also described the platform as “dangerous by design,” stating that TikTok’s algorithms are crafted to foster harm to young users.
Furthermore, Washington’s lawsuit pointed to the platform’s role in facilitating the sexual exploitation of underage users, likening its live streaming and virtual currency systems to a “virtual strip club” without adequate age restrictions.
Broader Legal Challenges and Impact on TikTok’s Future
The lawsuits are part of a broader legal trend aimed at holding TikTok accountable for its influence on younger users. In 2022, eight states, including California and Massachusetts, launched a nationwide investigation into TikTok’s impact on children and teens. More recently, in August 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice sued TikTok, alleging that the platform had failed to adequately protect children’s privacy.
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is also embroiled in a legal battle over a U.S. law that could potentially ban the app in the country. Other states, including Utah and Texas, have previously sued TikTok for not doing enough to shield children from harmful content.
As the legal challenges mount, TikTok’s future in the U.S. may face increased uncertainty. However, the platform remains adamant that it is committed to creating a safer environment for its users, despite the growing number of lawsuits seeking to hold it accountable for the mental and emotional well-being of young people.
