A bipartisan group of more than a dozen state attorneys general is filing lawsuits on Tuesday against social media giant TikTok, with one complaint ac

States sue TikTok over app's effect on kids' mental health

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2024-10-08 14:30:10

A bipartisan group of more than a dozen state attorneys general is filing lawsuits on Tuesday against social media giant TikTok, with one complaint accusing the company of deceiving users by claiming that its app is safe for children, despite its addictive features, and for allegedly operating an unlicensed money transmission business.

"Our lawsuit is seeking to hold TikTok accountable for harming D.C. children" said Attorney General Brian Schwalb of the District of Columbia, in an interview with CNBC.

Schwalb's suit alleges a slew of "profound" mental health risks are posed to teens and children by compulsive TikTok use, including depression, anxiety, sleep loss and body dysmorphia.

Schwalb called the app — which allows users to create, share and view short-form videos — "digital nicotine," and said that TikTok is "intentionally trying to addict young people to its platform."

"In addition to prioritizing its profits over the health of children, TikTok's unregulated and illegal virtual economy allows the darkest, most depraved corners of society to prey upon vulnerable victims," Schwalb said. "The company knows what is happening and has chosen to ignore it. This lawsuit seeks to put an end to its illegal, deceptive, and predatory behavior."