Across the United States, more than a dozen state attorneys general are mounting significant legal challenges against TikTok, alleging the popular social media platform harms young people's mental health. The lawsuits, initiated by 14 states alongside Washington D.C., echo previous complaints raised by states like Utah, which has led the charge with its own suits over the past year.
The origins of these legal actions stem from increasing concerns about TikTok's influence on its young audience. State authorities assert the application employs features purposely crafted to keep users hooked for extended periods, which they believe leads to detrimental mental health effects. California Attorney General Rob Bonta articulated the core issue, stating, "TikTok has intentionally and deliberately manipulated and hurt, knowingly, young people.”
Various states are accusing TikTok of strategically leveraging addictive features like endless scrolling, autoplay, and incessant notifications to engage young users—essentially creating what has been dubbed as "digital nicotine" for teenagers. Washington D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb expanded upon this analogy, elucidated how prolonged usage exacerbates mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and various eating disorders.
Adding to the complexity of the allegations, states are emphasizing TikTok's live-streaming functionality, where minors can potentially receive money through digital gifts during live broadcasts, raising alarming questions about the exploitation of underage users. Schwalb echoed this sentiment by indicating, "Young people are being lured to do dangerous things online,” effectively addressing the potential risks linked to such features.
Each lawsuit, unique to its respective state, tackles similar complaints of violating consumer protection laws. For example, TikTok's monetization strategies have raised eyebrows, as they have been accused of facilitating sexual exploitation and perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards, leading to problems such as low self-esteem and increased bullying among teens. Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman went as far as to label TikTok as an “addiction machine.”
Since Utah's filing in October 2023, which alluded to how the app invites children to develop addictive patterns and exploitative behavior through its ‘TikTok LIVE’ feature, multiple states have joined this unified front seeking accountability. Utah has underscored the feature as being reminiscent of virtual strip clubs targeted at minors, hence driving the urgency behind these legal actions.
Interestingly, TikTok has publicly contested these claims. A spokesperson for the company mentioned their commitment to enhancing safety measures and stressed their attempts to collaborate with state attorneys for over two years prior to these lawsuits. The representative insisted, "We’re proud of and remain deeply committed to the work we’ve done to protect teens...disappointingly, they have taken this step rather than work with us on constructive solutions to industry-wide challenges."
This spectrum of lawsuits emerges at a pivotal time. TikTok is under intense scrutiny, not just for alleged mental health violations but also potentially facing prohibitions due to national security risks linked to its ownership by the Chinese company ByteDance. The clock is ticking for TikTok—come January, the company must either divest from its Chinese parent company or face significant operational challenges in the U.S.
Meanwhile, the allegations have sparked major conversations surrounding social media's role and responsibility concerning youth welfare. New York Attorney General Letitia James emphasized this nation-wide call for accountability, stating directly, "TikTok claims their platform is safe for young people, but far from true,” prompting regulatory scrutiny and social responsibility debates.
These mounting lawsuits signify not only state-led interventions against TikTok but also reflect growing nationwide anxiety about the impact of social media on children and adolescents. The trends observed in mental health from prolonged use of platforms like TikTok have spurred multiple representatives to urge significant legislative actions to mitigate potential fallout and safeguard young users.
Legal experts are monitoring these situations closely, not only for their immediate impacts but also for the longer-term ramifications they may have on social media regulation as seen across various platforms, from Meta to Snapchat, all facing similar levels of scrutiny for their design and functionalities. Underneath it all, the core question being pondered is, how do we protect our youth from potentially harmful digital addictions?
The legal battle against TikTok is just gearing up, and how it will change the app's nature and youth engagement strategies remains to be seen. Each lawsuit raises awareness of the broader issue at stake: How do we balance technological advancement and user safety, particularly for the vulnerable youth demographic?
