Multiple US states, including New York and California, have filed lawsuits against popular social media platform TikTok, accusing the company of harming and failing to protect young people. The lawsuits allege that TikTok intentionally uses addictive software to keep children engaged on the app for as long as possible, as well as misrepresenting the effectiveness of its content moderation. TikTok has denied the allegations, stating that many are inaccurate and misleading.
The platform’s parent company, ByteDance, is also facing proposed legislation that could ban the app in the US amid concerns about user data security and potential influence by the Chinese government. However, TikTok has defended itself, saying it offers robust safeguards for teens and parents.
Despite the legal challenges, many of TikTok’s 170 million US users support the platform, arguing that it provides a valuable space for marginalized communities to share their voices. Civil liberties and digital rights groups have also spoken out against attempts to ban TikTok, stating that it would infringe on freedom of speech.
The lawsuits claim that TikTok is intentionally designed to be addictive and targets children for profit, with allegations of facilitating sexual exploitation of underage users. TikTok asserts that it provides safety features such as screentime limits and privacy defaults for minors under 16. Multiple states, including Illinois, Massachusetts, and Washington, as well as the US Department of Justice, have also filed suits against the company.
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