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Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that Illinois is joining
13 other states in a lawsuit against the social media platform
TikTok. The lawsuit claims TikTok includes design features that
they say make children addicted to the platform. Joining the
lawsuit were California, the District of Columbia, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina,
New Jersey, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont and Washington.
“The addictive features on TikTok’s social media platform
interfere with sleep and education, and contribute to
depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia and thoughts of self-harm,”
said Raoul.
Raoul also spotlighted TikTok’s use of beauty filters, which can
let users appear thinner and younger, or apply virtual makeup to
a face using AI.
The use of TikTok is pervasive among young people in the United
States. In 2023, 63% of all Americans ages 13 to 17 who
responded to a Pew Research survey reported using TikTok.
The bipartisan group of attorneys general is seeking to force
TikTok to change product features that they argue are
manipulative and harm teens. The suits are also asking courts to
impose monetary penalties against the company.
“We strongly disagree with these claims, many of which we
believe to be inaccurate and misleading," said TikTok spokesman
Alex Haurek.
Last year, a coalition of states filed a similar lawsuit against
Instagram and Facebook owner Meta, accusing the tech giant of
failing to keep children safe on the apps. That case is still
pending.
Last month, Raoul joined a coalition of 42 attorneys general
calling on Congress to pass legislation requiring a U.S. surgeon
general warning on all algorithm-driven social media platforms. |
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