13 states are suing TikTok because it is harmful to underage users

Reuters reports:

TikTok faces new lawsuits Tuesday filed by 13 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, accusing the popular social media platform of harming and failing to protect young people.

The lawsuits, filed separately in New York, California, the District of Columbia and 11 other states, extend Chinese TikTok’s legal battle with U.S. regulators and demand new financial sanctions against the company.

The states accuse TikTok of deliberately using addictive software designed to keep children watching as long and often as possible and misrepresenting the effectiveness of content moderation. “TikTok cultivates social media addiction to increase corporate profits,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement.

Read the full article. The other states filing separate charges are Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont and Washington. The tweets below come from the Attorney General of Washington DC.

TikTok is facing new lawsuits filed by 13 US states and the District of Columbia, accusing the popular social media platform of harming and failing to protect young people https://t.co/g0KP6vB6gd pic.twitter.com/C2JdnCL08G

— Reuters Legal (@ReutersLegal) October 8, 2024

NEW: We’re suing TikTok for exploiting DC children.

TikTok lies to families about the safety of its platform and uses an addictive design to prey on our children.

TikTok also illegally operates a virtual currency system and uses it to profit from the sexual exploitation of children.

— AG Brian Schwalb (@DCAttorneyGen) October 8, 2024

TikTok’s predatory behavior is causing untold damage to an entire generation of young people.

It fuels mental health issues, sleep loss, body dysmorphia, suicidal thoughts and pedophilia.

TikTok knows this is happening, but ignores it.

We’re going to file a lawsuit to stop it.

— AG Brian Schwalb (@DCAttorneyGen) October 8, 2024

1️⃣ First, the deception.

TikTok claims it is committed to making its platform safe for children, but its actions prove otherwise.

In reality, TikTok *knows* that its content moderation, parental controls, age verification, and safety protocols are failing and putting children at risk.

— AG Brian Schwalb (@DCAttorneyGen) October 8, 2024

2️⃣ TikTok feeds its vulnerable underage users a deliberately addictive algorithm to trap them on TikTok for hours.

Infinite scroll.

Push notifications.

Face filters.

Purchases as childish emojis.

TikTok uses these features to endlessly hook children and take their money. pic.twitter.com/6pJCUZRJkf

— AG Brian Schwalb (@DCAttorneyGen) October 8, 2024

3️⃣ TikTok is helping fuel a mental health crisis among our children.

As TikTok grew in popularity beginning in 2018, the number of D.C. students reporting feeling hopeless or having suicidal thoughts increased.

Again, TikTok knows its app harms children, but it puts profit before safety. pic.twitter.com/W6CpP2BoGc

— AG Brian Schwalb (@DCAttorneyGen) October 8, 2024

4️⃣ TikTok operates an illegal, unlicensed virtual currency called TikTok Coins.

By not registering as a money transmitter with @DCDISB And @USTreasuryit violated DC and federal law.

TikTok blatantly skirts laws that protect against child exploitation, fraud and other crimes.

— AG Brian Schwalb (@DCAttorneyGen) October 8, 2024

5️⃣ TikTok profits from the sexual exploitation of children and functions as a virtual strip club.

TikTok touts its safety policies but allows teens to be exploited for sexually explicit content with its LIVE and Coins features.

Subsequently, up to 50% of each transaction is confiscated.

— AG Brian Schwalb (@DCAttorneyGen) October 8, 2024

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