TikTok sued by 13 states and DC, accused of harming younger users

TikTok is facing fresh legal challenges as 13 US states and the District of Columbia filed lawsuits on Tuesday, accusing the social media giant of harming young users and failing to protect them adequately.

The lawsuits, brought forward in states including New York, California, the District of Columbia, and 11 others, expand TikTok’s ongoing legal battles with US regulators and seek financial penalties against the Chinese-owned platform. The states claim TikTok uses addictive software designed to keep children glued to the app for extended periods, while also misrepresenting the effectiveness of its content moderation.