Several states are filing lawsuits against TikTok over child safety concerns

A bipartisan group of states filed lawsuits against TikTok this week, alleging that the company’s popular video app not only poses a threat to children’s mental health and well-being, but also attempts to deceive parents into believing the app is safe. Some of the lawsuits also allege that TikTok was used for illegal money transfers.

The lawsuits were filed this week by 13 states, including the New York Supreme Court, CNBC reported. The complaints raised by New York Attorney General Letitia James are consistent with those of other states, with slight differences:

The lawsuit further alleges that TikTok’s developers knowingly developed the app’s features to address addictive compulsions in children and adolescents. The lawsuit relates to earlier this year when New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan, issued an advisory classifying social media as a public health threat, which was then endorsed by Mayor Eric Adams in June 2024. It’s certainly not the first time TikTok has come under scrutiny either, as the company was ordered earlier this year to separate from Chinese parent company Bytedance or face a ban in the US.

With so much litigation facing TikTok, it will be interesting to see where the app ends up by the end of the year. As we follow the latest on TikTok and social media, stay tuned for more updates here at Shacknews.