14 States Sue TikTok for Youth Addiction

A coalition of 14 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and New York Attorney General Letitia James, have filed lawsuits against TikTok, accusing the platform of designing its app to be addictive, thereby harming youth mental health. The lawsuits, filed in state courts, highlight TikTok's algorithm and features like infinite scrolling and push notifications as intentionally addictive, creating issues such as anxiety and depression among young users. The legal actions demand significant penalties and potential injunctions against TikTok, claiming it targets children to maximize profits through prolonged engagement. TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, refutes these claims, asserting that it offers robust safeguards for minors, including screen time limits and privacy settings. The lawsuits are part of a broader legal battle, which also includes challenges to U.S. legislation requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok to avoid a nationwide ban. The platform's design and business model are compared to those of tobacco and opioid companies, emphasizing the alleged exploitation of young users for profit.