Prosecutors of 14 states of the United States filed lawsuits against TikTok.
Prosecutors in 14 US states have filed lawsuits against TikTok, alleging that the social media platform creates an "unhealthy addiction" in teenagers and harms their mental health.
Prosecutors in New York and California are among the main plaintiffs. Lawsuits have also been filed in Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia.
According to an investigation by prosecutors, TikTok's core business model is aimed at creating social media addiction. The company encourages children to spend as much time as possible on the platform, thereby increasing its revenue from ad sales.
To fuel this addiction, TikTok uses features such as a recommendation system, round-the-clock notifications, automatic video playback, temporary "stories" and live streams, "likes", comments and beauty filters. Beauty filters, in particular, reinforce a sense of self-doubt among teenage girls, and challenges on the platform often push users to risky actions for life and health.
Prosecutors are demanding that TikTok stop its "harmful practices" and impose fines on the company.
