Brazil Sued TikTok, Kwai, And Meta For Minors’ Safety Concerns

Brazil’s Collective Defense Institute, a consumer rights group, has filed two lawsuits against the Brazilian branches of TikTok, Kwai, and Meta Platforms. The institute alleges that these companies have failed to prevent minors from indiscriminately using their platforms, as reported by Reuters today.

The lawsuits seek 3 billion reais (approximately $525 million) in damages, asserting that these social media giants have not taken adequate steps to protect minors and ensure their safety on these platforms, said Reuters.

“It is urgent that measures be adopted in order to change the way the algorithm works, the processing of data from users under 18, and the way in which teenagers aged 13 and over are supervised and their accounts created, in order to ensure a safer, healthier experience … as is already the case in developed countries,” said lawyer Lillian Salgado to Reuters.

The Brazilian government’s scrutiny follows similar global trends. The UK Parliament, for instance, is currently considering legislation to regulate young people’s smartphone use to curb social media addiction and its potential negative impacts.

If passed, this bill would establish stricter rules governing minors’ use of mobile phones and social media. However, some academics warn that while restrictions may help reduce addiction, they might also limit children’s access to the educational and social benefits of digital technology.

in response to brazil’sban Meta Platforms stated that it aims “young people to have safe and age-appropriate experiences on our apps, and we have been working on these issues for over a decade, developing more than 50 tools, resources, and features to support teens and their guardians,” noted Reuters.

Meta also announced a new “Teen Account” on Instagram, set to launch soon in Brazil, which will automatically restrict which accounts teens can view and who may contact them, said Reuters.

Meanwhile, TikTok reported that it has not received any notification about the case, while Kwai, a short-video platform, reiterated that user safety, particularly for minors, is one of its top priorities, noted Reutes.

This lawsuit comes just weeks after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated that Brazil would consider banning online betting websites if new regulations fail to address gambling addiction.

As the global conversation on regulating social media and smartphone use continues, finding a balance between protecting young users and ensuring access to beneficial technology is becoming more critical.