- TikTok faces a lawsuit from 14 U.S. states for allegedly worsening the mental health crisis among teenagers.
- The lawsuit claims TikTok’s addictive features harm teens, while the platform misleads the public about safety.
A bipartisan coalition of 14 U.S. state attorneys general has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, accusing the social media giant of contributing to a worsening mental health crisis among teenagers. The lawsuit claims that TikTok deliberately uses addictive features to engage young users while misleading the public about the app’s safety.
TikTok responded, calling the lawsuit “disappointing” and stating that the claims are inaccurate. The app is already facing significant legal challenges, including a potential ban in the U.S. unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, agrees to a sale.
Filed in New York, the lawsuit argues that TikTok knowingly promotes harmful content and features that affect young users’ mental well-being. These include sleep-disrupting alerts, disappearing videos that prompt constant engagement, and beauty filters that distort self-image.
New York Attorney General Letitia James highlighted tragic cases linked to TikTok, such as a Manhattan teen who died while “subway surfing,” an activity he learned about on the platform. She emphasized that TikTok’s addictive features are causing anxiety, depression, and other negative mental health effects on teenagers nationwide.
TikTok has introduced tools aimed at helping users limit screen time, but the lawsuit claims the platform misrepresents their effectiveness. In addition to mental health concerns, the suit accuses TikTok of running an unlicensed money transmission business through its virtual currency.
The company strongly disagreed with the lawsuit’s allegations, stating its commitment to teen safety and its ongoing efforts to improve the app. Similar lawsuits have been filed against other platforms like Facebook and Instagram, with growing calls for stronger regulations to protect children’s mental health.
