13 US states sue TikTok for 'intentionally targeting children'

TikTok is facing a new wave of lawsuits from 13 US states and the District of Columbia, alleging the platform's addictive design harms young users and that the company has failed to protect them, a report has said.
According to a report by news agency Reuters, the lawsuits have been filed separately in New York, California, the District of Columbia and 11 other states, and seek to impose new financial penalties on the Chinese-owned company.

TikTok is accused of intentionally designing its software to be addictive, keeping children glued to their screens for as long as possible to maximize advertising revenue.
"TikTok cultivates social media addiction to boost corporate profits. TikTok intentionally targets children because they know kids do not yet have the defenses or capacity to create healthy boundaries around addictive content," California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement.
New York Attorney General Letitia James echoed these concerns, highlighting the impact on youth mental health.
"Young people are struggling with their mental health because of addictive social media platforms like TikTok," she said.
The lawsuits also criticise TikTok's content moderation practices, claiming the company misrepresents its effectiveness in protecting children from harmful content. Washington DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb alleged that TikTok operates an unlicensed money transmission business through its live streaming and virtual currency features, likening it to "a virtual strip club with no age restrictions." Schwalb's lawsuit also accuses TikTok of facilitating the sexual exploitation of underage users.

TikTok has denied these allegations, stating last week that it "strongly disagrees" with claims that it fails to protect children and asserting that it offers "robust safeguards for teens and parents."