Why is TikTok in the news again?

Thirteen U.S. states and the District of Columbia filed complaints against TikTok, alleging the network puts its young users in danger, putting the company under legal fire. The lawsuits, which have been filed in New York, California, and other states, accuse TikTok of neglecting to shield young people from mentally health issues and addictive content.

TikTok’s controversy is growing along with its popularity, especially in the United States where lawmakers and regulators are putting more and more pressure on the platform.

Allegations of Addictive Design

One of the key issues raised by the states is that TikTok’s software is engineered to be “intentionally addictive.” According to California Attorney General Rob Bonta, the software is intended to keep users, particularly young children, interested for as long as possible while increasing corporate revenues through improved ad targeting. The claims allege that TikTok misrepresents its content moderation efforts and safety precautions, contributing to social media addiction and declining mental health among younger users.

“TikTok intentionally targets children because they know kids do not yet have the defenses or capacity to create healthy boundaries around addictive content,” Bonta was reported to have said.

TikTok’s Response: Denial and Disappointment

In response, TikTok stated that it “strongly disagreed” with the allegations, calling them “inaccurate and misleading.” The company expressed disappointment in the decision to pursue lawsuits rather than seeking collaborative solutions. According to TikTok, it already offers protective features such as screen time limits and privacy defaults for minors under 16, designed to enhance user safety.

A Broader Battle: U.S. Regulatory Concerns and Lawsuits

TikTok’s legal challenges do not end with the recent litigation. Attorney General Brian Schwalb of Washington, D.C., has accused TikTok of supporting an unauthorised money transmission company through its live streaming and virtual currency services. Schwalb criticised the platform, calling it “dangerous by design” and “intentionally addictive.”

Meanwhile, Washington’s lawsuit introduced a more alarming concern: allegations that TikTok’s live streaming functions operate like a “virtual strip club with no age restrictions,” facilitating the exploitation of underage users. This echoes previous accusations raised by states like Utah and Texas, as well as a lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice regarding TikTok’s alleged failure to protect children’s privacy.

A Global Concern: TikTok’s Parent Company Under Fire

TikTok’s parent firm, ByteDance, is also under international examination. ByteDance has been fighting legislation in the United States that threatens to outright ban TikTok. TikTok has already been involved in legal battles in the United States. Earlier cases alleged privacy violations and harm to kids, suggesting that the platform’s regulatory difficulties are far from resolved.

A Social Media Giant in Crisis

As TikTok deals with continuous legal and regulatory challenges, its future in the United States remains questionable. Accusations of exploiting underage users, combined with worries about privacy infringement, have pushed the site to the forefront of an increasingly heated discussion over the safety and ethics of social media. It is unclear whether TikTok will be able to handle these legal hurdles without losing its large user base or its presence in the US market.