Asianfin--A bipartisan group of 14 attorneys general from various states filed lawsuits on Tuesday against TikTok, accusing the platform of contributing to youth addiction and negatively impacting children's mental health.
The lawsuits target specific features of TikTok, such as its continuous scrolling content feed, challenge videos that sometimes promote risky behavior, and late-night push notifications that the attorneys general argue interfere with children's sleep.
Each lawsuit was filed separately by coalition members, co-led by New York Attorney General Letitia James and California Attorney General Rob Bonta. This legal action adds to the mounting pressure TikTok is facing, including a potential U.S. ban set for next year and a lawsuit from the Department of Justice over alleged unlawful data collection from minors.
In June, New York's governor signed legislation to regulate social media algorithms, which will require platforms to present content in chronological order for users under 18, potentially forcing TikTok to alter its operations. Additionally, in September, 42 state attorneys general urged U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to mandate warning labels on social media apps regarding their risks to young users.