Court Allows TikTok Lawsuit Over Child's Death

The U.S. Court of Appeals has allowed a lawsuit against TikTok to proceed concerning the tragic death of 10-year-old Nylah Anderson, who died after participating in a viral 'blackout challenge' she viewed on the app. The court determined that TikTok's algorithm, which promotes content to users, may expose the company to liability, rejecting protections typically offered under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Nylah's mother, Tawainna Anderson, claims that TikTok's algorithm intentionally recommended dangerous content, leading to her daughter's death by asphyxiation. Legal experts view this ruling as a significant shift in accountability for social media platforms, suggesting that algorithmic curation may be considered a form of first-party speech. TikTok has previously asserted that such challenges predate their platform and has expressed condolences to the family. This case could influence future legal frameworks regarding the responsibilities of tech companies in managing harmful content.