More than a dozen U.S. states, along with the District of Columbia, filed lawsuits against TikTok on Tuesday, accusing the app of negatively impacting young people’s mental health. These lawsuits stem from a national investigation initiated in March 2022 by a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general.
The main focus of each lawsuit is TikTok’s algorithm, which curates content on the app’s primary “For You” feed, presenting videos tailored to users’ interests. The complaints also point out design features that allegedly make the platform addictive for children, such as endless scrolling, frequent push notifications, and face filters that promote unrealistic beauty standards.
In the District of Columbia’s lawsuit, TikTok’s algorithm was described as “dopamine-inducing” and intentionally addictive, designed to keep young users engaged for long periods. The complaints assert that despite being aware of the harmful effects of prolonged use—such as anxiety, depression, and body image issues—TikTok continues to promote excessive screen time.
