A coalition of 14 state attorneys general filed lawsuits against TikTok, accusing the social media giant of exploiting young users by using addictive features and misleading the public about its safety. The states allege that TikTok’s design deliberately targets children and teenagers, keeping them engaged for long periods and exposing them to dangerous viral trends, which have led to injuries and deaths. The lawsuits also claim TikTok is illegally collecting data from children under 13 and profiting from it.
The lawsuits, filed separately in each state, aim to hold TikTok accountable for its practices and demand changes to its platform, as well as financial penalties. The platform’s design encourages young users to stay engaged longer and more frequently, resulting in sleep disruptions, anxiety and body image issues, according to the lawsuits. The legal action follows a rising tide of scrutiny over the impact of social media on youth mental health.
“Our investigation has revealed that 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,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. “When we look at the youth mental health crisis and the revenue machine TikTok has created, fueled by the time and attention of our young people, it’s devastatingly obvious: our children and teens never stood a chance against these social media behemoths.”
One complaint cites the case of a Manhattan teenager who died earlier this year while “subway surfing,” a dangerous trend on TikTok that involves riding on the roofs of moving subway cars. The boy’s mother discovered multiple videos promoting the stunt on his TikTok account. Another incident involved four teenagers in Buffalo, New York, who died in a car crash linked to the “Kia Challenge,” which teaches users how to start and steal certain car models. Both tragedies are emblematic of the dangers posed by TikTok’s viral content, according to the coalition.
The attorneys general also argue that TikTok misleads parents about its safety features. The app offers a 60-minute screen time limit for minors but prompts them to simply enter a passcode to extend usage. Similarly, the lawsuits assert that TikTok’s “Restricted Mode,” meant to filter harmful content, is ineffective. These features were designed more to placate concerns than to protect children, according to the states.
In addition to the mental health concerns, the lawsuits claim that TikTok violates the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting data from children under 13 without parental consent. Researchers estimate that a significant portion of TikTok’s U.S. ad revenue comes from minors, despite the platform’s claims that it only allows users over 13 to access all its features.
The attorneys general from New York, California, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia joined in filing the lawsuits. Each filed in their own jurisdiction and argued that TikTok has violated consumer protection and privacy laws.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has been at the forefront of efforts to hold social media platforms accountable for their impact on young people’s mental health. As one of the leaders in the coalition of 14 states suing TikTok, she is seeking to curb the platform’s alleged exploitation of children and teenagers through addictive features.
The lawsuit is a continuation of her broader strategy to combat what she sees as deceptive practices that have harmed New York’s youth, following her previous actions against other tech companies, including Meta. James has argued that TikTok’s design and content promote excessive use among young people, exacerbating issues such as anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.
This lawsuit is part of James’ ongoing campaign to push for stronger regulations on social media platforms. She has repeatedly called on Congress and federal regulators to take action, citing the rise in youth mental health concerns linked to platforms like TikTok.
Her office has also introduced state-level legislation targeting these issues. In this case, she is using New York’s consumer protection laws to argue that TikTok misled the public about the safety of its platform and violated privacy laws by improperly collecting data from minors.
“Young people are struggling with their mental health because of addictive social media platforms like TikTok,” said Attorney General James. “TikTok claims that their platform is safe for young people, but that is far from true. In New York and across the country, young people have died or gotten injured doing dangerous TikTok challenges, and many more are feeling more sad, anxious, and depressed because of TikTok’s addictive features.
“Today, we are suing TikTok to protect young people and help combat the nationwide youth mental health crisis,” James continued. “Kids and families across the country are desperate for help to address this crisis, and we are doing everything in our power to protect them.”
