Illinois joins 13 states in lawsuit against TikTok for harmful business practices targeting teens

Illinois Joins 13 States in Lawsuit Against TikTok for Harmful Business Practices Targeting Teens

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a lawsuit today against TikTok, accusing the popular social media platform of employing harmful and deceptive business practices aimed at children and young teenagers. The lawsuit alleges that TikTok knowingly designed its app to capture an excessive amount of users' time and attention, despite being aware of the serious mental health risks associated with excessive usage.

This legal action is part of a bipartisan nationwide investigation that commenced in 2022, leading to 13 other states filing similar lawsuits against the company. The states contend that TikTok's practices violate consumer protection laws and that the platform is manipulating vulnerable youth for financial gain.

According to findings from the U.S. Surgeon General, adolescents who spend over three hours daily on social media are twice as likely to suffer from poor mental health. The Illinois Attorney General highlighted that certain features on the TikTok platform, such as filters, promote unrealistic beauty standards and could be particularly harmful to users.

Additionally concerning is the fact that the version of TikTok available in the United States lacks the protective measures for children that are present in the app's Chinese version. In response to the lawsuit, TikTok disputed the claims, describing them as misleading and inaccurate. A spokesperson stated that the platform is committed to safeguarding teenagers and has implemented various features aimed at promoting user safety, such as default screen time limits, family pairing options, and enhanced privacy settings for users under the age of 16.

Keywords

TikTok
Illinois
lawsuit
harmful business practices
mental health
teens
young users
consumer protection
filters
safety features

FAQ

Q: What is the lawsuit against TikTok about?
A: The lawsuit accuses TikTok of employing harmful and deceptive business practices that target children and teens, contributing to mental health issues.

Q: How many states are involved in the lawsuit against TikTok?
A: Illinois is joining 13 other states in the lawsuit against TikTok.

Q: What concerns are raised about TikTok's impact on mental health?
A: The U.S. Surgeon General found that teens spending more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of poor mental health.

Q: How does TikTok respond to the allegations?
A: TikTok claims the allegations are misleading, stating they are committed to protecting teens and have implemented safety features such as screen time limits and privacy settings.

Q: What features of TikTok are seen as harmful?
A: Certain features, like filters, are said to set unrealistic beauty standards and contribute to negative self-image among its young users.