On 8 October 2024, California Attorney General Rob Bonta and New York Attorney General Letitia James, led a coalition of 14 other states in filing separate enforcement actions against TikTok and its parent company ByteDance, alleging that the platform exploits young users and violates state consumer protection laws. The complaint, argues that TikTok intentionally designed its platform to encourage excessive and addictive use among minors to maximise profits. It highlights features like endless scrolling, autoplay, and beauty filters, which are engineered to keep young users engaged for extended periods, contributing to a youth mental health crisis. Furthermore, the lawsuit contends that TikTok deceives the public by downplaying the risks associated with its platform, despite internal knowledge of the platform's detrimental impact on mental health, including issues such as sleep deprivation, depression, and anxiety among young users. TikTok allegedly uses data-driven features to manipulate user engagement and fails to implement adequate safeguards for children under the age of 13. The states are seeking penalties, injunctive relief, and monetary damages to hold TikTok accountable for its role in the mental health crisis affecting young users.
Original source