More than a dozen states in the US have sued TikTok, accusing the social media platform of helping to drive a mental health crisis among teenagers.
TikTok Sued for ‘Wreaking Havoc’
A bipartisan group of 14 attorneys general from across the country allege that the company uses addictive features to hook children to the app and that it has intentionally misled the public about the safety of prolonged use. TikTok called the lawsuit “disappointing” and said it believed many of the claims were “inaccurate and misleading”.
The platform is already battling a law passed by Congress in April that would ban it from the US, unless Chinese parent company Bytedance agreed to a sale. “TikTok knows that compulsive use of and other harmful effects of its platform are wreaking havoc on the mental health of millions of American children and teenagers,” said the lawsuit filed in New York on Tuesday.
“Despite such documented knowledge, TikTok continually misrepresents its platform as ‘safe’ [and] ‘appropriate for children and teenagers’.”
The lawsuit, filed by parents and mental health advocates, argues that TikTok’s design and algorithms deliberately push harmful content to teens, making it difficult for them to stop using the app. It alleges that the platform’s endless scroll and frequent exposure to negative or unrealistic content are fueling self-esteem issues, body image concerns, and increased social anxiety among young users.
Parents involved in the suit claim that their children have been struggling with severe mental health problems as a direct result of excessive time spent on TikTok. They argue that the company prioritizes profits over the well-being of its users, especially teens who are particularly vulnerable to the psychological effects of social media.
The lawsuit also highlights concerns about the lack of parental controls and the ease with which young users are exposed to harmful trends or challenges on the platform. It accuses TikTok of not doing enough to safeguard young people from the risks associated with excessive social media use, despite growing evidence of its impact on mental health.
TikTok, owned by Chinese tech company Byte Dance, has faced criticism in the past for similar concerns but has made efforts to introduce features like screen time management tools and content warnings. However, the lawsuit argues that these steps are insufficient and that more needs to be done to protect young users.
Mental health experts have increasingly voiced concern over the effects of social media on young people, with many pointing to TikTok’s highly engaging and often unpredictable content as a key factor in rising levels of teen anxiety and depression. This lawsuit could spark further debate about the responsibility of social media companies to protect their users’ mental health, especially among the younger generation.
While TikTok has not yet responded to the lawsuit, the case could bring more scrutiny to the platform’s role in shaping the mental health landscape for teens and force the company to take stronger measures to address the issue.
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