TikTok Sued by States Over Teen Mental Health Crisis
More than a dozen states in the U.S. have initiated lawsuits against TikTok, accusing the popular social media platform of exacerbating a mental health crisis among teenagers.
A bipartisan group of 14 attorneys general claims that TikTok employs addictive features to engage young users while misleading the public about the safety of prolonged app usage.
In a statement, TikTok called the lawsuit “disappointing” and argued that many of the allegations are “inaccurate and misleading.” The platform is also contending with a congressional law passed in April that could ban its operations in the U.S. unless its Chinese parent company, Bytedance, agrees to divest.
The legal action, filed in New York, asserts, “TikTok knows that compulsive use and other harmful effects of its platform are wreaking havoc on the mental health of millions of American children and teenagers.”
New York Attorney General Letitia James highlighted the tragic consequences of TikTok challenges, citing cases where young people have died or suffered injuries. She noted the case of a 15-year-old boy who died while “subway surfing,” with TikTok videos of the activity found on his phone.
The lawsuit points to specific features as particularly harmful, such as notifications that disrupt sleep and disappearing videos that encourage constant checking.
Despite TikTok’s efforts to promote tools for limiting screen time, the lawsuit claims these tools are misrepresented.
The legal actions add to TikTok’s mounting challenges, with prior lawsuits filed in states like Texas and Utah focused on child safety.
Ahmed Imran, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, expressed hope that these lawsuits would raise awareness among parents and prompt changes in corporate practices.
