As reported by NBC News, a coalition of fourteen attorneys general, led by officials in New York and California, has filed lawsuits accusing the popular social media platform TikTok of harming the mental health of young users and collecting their data without consent. The legal action, organized by a bipartisan group of law enforcement officers, alleges that TikTok violated state laws by falsely claiming that its service is safe for young people. These lawsuits were filed individually.
New York Attorney General Letitia James stated, "Young people are struggling with their mental health because of addictive social media platforms like TikTok. TikTok claims that their platform is safe for young people, but that is far from true."
The lawsuits focus on what the plaintiffs describe as "addictive" features such as 24/7 notifications and video autoplay. They also address concerns about "dangerous TikTok ‘challenges’" and the alleged collection of data about users under 13 without parental consent, which would be a violation of federal online privacy law.
In response, a TikTok spokesperson stated, "We strongly disagree with these claims, many of which we believe to be inaccurate and misleading. We're proud of and remain deeply committed to the work we've done to protect teens and we will continue to update and improve our product."
The Surgeon General and other health professionals have also raised concerns about the impact of excessive social media use on mental and physical health, particularly among children and teenagers. In a report released in May 2023, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned that social media use is a main contributor to depression, anxiety, and other issues in the nation’s teens.
TikTok, with over 170 million American users, has faced growing scrutiny over its influence and impact on mental health, as well as national security concerns due to its ownership by the China-based firm ByteDance.
The lawsuits aim to prevent TikTok from using what the attorneys general describe as harmful and exploitative tactics and seek financial penalties, including "the disgorgement of all profits resulting from the fraudulent and illegal practices, and to collect damages for users that have been harmed." The coalition comprises the attorneys general of California, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont, Washington state, and Washington, D.C.
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