Over a dozen US states are suing TikTok

A coalition of attorneys-general claim that the platform is designed to be addictive, doesn’t protect teens, and collects data about kids without parental consent.

Attorneys-general Rob Bonta (California) and Letitia James (New York) are leading a bipartisan coalition to sue TikTok for allegedly violating consumer protection laws and exploiting and harming young users. 

This group action also involves 11 other states (Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont and Washington), plus the District of Columbia. And it brings the number of states that have filed lawsuits against TikTok for the way it treats kids up to 23 in total. 

A significant number of children in the US are on the platform—with Pew Research estimating the number at roughly 63% of 13- to 17-year-olds last year. Most US teens use it daily, and 17% say they’re on it “almost constantly”.  Click here to read more.