More than a dozen states have filed lawsuits against TikTok earlier this week, alleging that the popular social media platform poses serious mental health risks to children.
The lawsuits were filed on Oct. 8, amid growing concerns about the impact of social media on young users throughout the country.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, in June, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy called on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms similar to those on cigarette packaging. In a guest essay published in The New York Times, Murthy expressed his increasing worry about the effects of social media on the mental health of young people in the United States.
Data at that time indicated that as many as 95% of teenagers ages 13 to 17 are active on social media, with many spending several hours on these platforms each day. This high level of engagement even led some experts to suggest that it resembles the addictive nature of tobacco, warranting similar regulatory measures.
At the heart of the new lawsuits is a focus on TikTok’s algorithm, which curates a personalized “For You” feed that aims to keeps users engaged for longer and longer periods of time.
Attorney generals from California, Kentucky, New Jersey and Washington argue that TikTok’s features, such as endless scrolling, frequent notifications, and filters that promote unrealistic beauty standards, all contribute to addiction and negatively impact mental health, reported Fox 4.
The lawsuits stem from a previous investigation initiated by a collection of attorneys general in March 2022, examining the effects of TikTok and similar platforms on children in the country. Although TikTok restricts access to users under 13 and limits certain content for those under 18, the legal complaints argue that these measures are easily bypassed with different online loopholes.
The recent legal action comes as TikTok faces potential nationwide bans, with federal authorities pushing for the sale of its China-based parent company, ByteDance, by mid-January 2025, citing national security concerns. The app, which has gained immense popularity since its international launch in 2018, has faced scrutiny over data privacy and allegations of sharing information with the Chinese government. As a Chinese company, ByteDance is obligated under Chinese law to provide data to the Communist Party. National security reports and a recent study highlighted by The Dallas Express raise concerns that TikTok collects extensive personal data that could be misused.
In fact, TikTok has been under almost consistent scrutiny, facing multiple lawsuits throughout the past calendar year.
Earlier this week, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against the social media empire, alleging further violations of a recent state law aimed at safeguarding children’s safety.
In the lawsuit, Paxton asserts that TikTok has collected and sold personal information of minors, including their birthdates, email addresses, phone numbers, device settings, as well as user activity data, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.