TikTok, the short video app loved by young people, once again finds itself at the center of a legal storm. More than ten US states and the District of Columbia have filed lawsuits against the platform, accusing it of harming the mental health of minors. The main accusation is that TikTok, through an “addictive” algorithm, pushes young people to excessively use the app, with devastating consequences on their mental health. Brian Schwalb, Attorney General of the District of Columbia, said: “TikTok profits from the fact that it is addictive in young people. Time spent on the platform generates enormous advertising revenue, but unfortunately it also generates negative effects on the mental health of users.”
The lawsuits, filed in state courts, are the result of a national investigation launched in March 2022 by a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general. At the center of the allegations is the algorithm that powers the “For You” feed, designed to show content customized to users’ interests. Features that would encourage addiction are also highlighted, such as infinite scrolling, push notifications and filters that create unattainable beauty standards. The District of Columbia calls the algorithm a “dopamine inducer,” intentionally created to trap young users in a cycle of overuse, despite TikTok being aware of the psychological and physiological harms that result, such as anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphia.
Another critical point concerns the ease with which minors, even under the age of 13, can circumvent age restrictions and access adult content. Furthermore, the authorities point the finger at TikTok Live, defining it as an “unregulated virtual economy” which allows financial transactions without the necessary authorizations and which, in fact, encourages the sexual exploitation of minors. This new wave of lawsuits comes amid growing concern about the impact of social media on young people’s lives. TikTok, in particular, is already under pressure domestically: A federal law that takes effect this year could lead to a ban on the app in the United States if Chinese parent company ByteDance doesn’t sell it by mid-January.