ALBANY — New York Attorney General Letitia James and California Attorney General Rob Bonta have led a bipartisan coalition of 14 attorneys general in filing lawsuits against TikTok for allegedly misleading the public about the safety of its platform and contributing to the mental health crisis among young users. The lawsuits claim TikTok violated state laws by falsely asserting its platform is safe for minors, while many young users face mental health challenges and dangerous outcomes from viral TikTok challenges.
The coalition accuses TikTok of cultivating addiction to boost profits, particularly targeting children who struggle to set boundaries. They highlight the platform’s features that lead to poor mental health, such as excessive notifications, autoplay videos, and harmful beauty filters. Specific incidents, including fatalities linked to dangerous challenges like “subway surfing” and the “Kia Challenge,” illustrate the risks involved.
Furthermore, TikTok is charged with violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting data from users under 13 without parental consent. The lawsuits also allege that TikTok misrepresented the effectiveness of its safety tools and falsely claimed its platform is not directed at children.
The coalition seeks to hold TikTok accountable for its practices and impose financial penalties, aiming to protect young users and combat the youth mental health crisis. Joining the lawsuit are attorneys general from several states, each filing in their jurisdiction. This effort aligns with previous actions by Attorney General James to regulate social media and protect children online.