TikTok Accused Of Deliberately Making Its Platform Addictive For Young Users

TikTok is facing lawsuits from 13 U.S. states and Washington D.C., alleging that the platform harms young users by failing to protect them adequately. According to Reuters, the lawsuits claim that TikTok’s software is intentionally designed to keep children engaged for long periods, fueling concerns about social media addiction.

This addictive nature is central to the allegations, with critics arguing that TikTok targets children, boosting the company’s profits by exploiting users’ time on the app.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has been vocal in criticizing the app, stating that TikTok is designed to create addiction in young users, who are less equipped to establish healthy boundaries with social media.

Moreover, the lawsuits claim that TikTok’s goal is to maximize user engagement in order to increase advertising revenue, regardless of the potential negative effects on children, reported Reuters.

New York Attorney General Letitia James emphasized that young people’s mental health is being adversely affected by the addictive design of platforms like TikTok, reported Reuters.

Further accusations include the charge that TikTok facilitates the sexual exploitation of minors through its live streaming system. Reuters reports that Washington state’s lawsuit likened TikTok’s live streaming and virtual currency to an unregulated adult venue, allowing such behavior without proper age restrictions.

In response, TikTok has strongly denied the allegations, claiming they are inaccurate and misleading. The company expressed disappointment in the states’ decision to pursue legal action rather than collaborate on industrywide solutions to improve safety, as reported by Reuters.

Further legal claims include accusations from Washington D.C. that TikTok operates an unlicensed money transmission business through its live streaming and virtual currency features, as noted by Reuters.

Washington state’s lawsuit adds that these features enable the sexual exploitation of minors, equating the platform to a virtual strip club without age restrictions, according to Reuters.

The Washington Post (TWP) notes that TikTok has implemented stricter privacy and safety measures for its youngest users. Children under 13 are directed to a separate version of the app that features stronger safeguards, and the platform has also imposed limitations on how teenagers interact with the site.

Despite these efforts, critics argue that TikTok’s safety measures, such as screen time limits, are insufficient. TWP reports that California Attorney General Rob Bonta dismissed some of TikTok’s changes as “empty gestures,” saying they are easily circumvented by children.