Florida lawsuit accuses TikTok of violating state’s child social media ban

Florida has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, alleging the social media giant violates a state law designed to limit minors' access to platforms. Attorney General James Uthmeier stated that TikTok exposes children to harmful sexual content and addictive features, such as unlimited scrolling and push notifications, keeping them engaged for excessive hours.

"It’s designed to keep kids stuck on those screens for hours," Uthemeier said during a press conference. "Our evidence suggests that so many kids are on TikTok for upwards of six, seven, eight or more hours a day. We are going to get our kids their lives back."

Florida's law prohibits children under 14 from using social media and requires parental consent for 15 and 16-year-olds. The civil lawsuit, filed in St. Lucie County, claims TikTok actively misleads Florida parents about the dangers of allowing teens on the platform. Officials accuse the company of downplaying mature content, including drugs, nudity, alcohol, and profanity, by falsely labeling it as "infrequent."

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It’s designed to keep kids stuck on those screens for hours. Our evidence suggests that so many kids are on TikTok for upwards of six, seven, eight or more hours a day. We are going to get our kids their lives back.

The lawsuit argues that a more accurate age rating for the platform's content would be over 16 or over 18, which would trigger parental restrictions on devices, preventing many children from downloading the app. TikTok stated it is reviewing the complaint and continues to update its platform in Florida to comply with state law, asserting that "TikTok is built with safety at its core."

This legal action adds to TikTok's growing list of challenges, as it faces similar lawsuits from approximately two dozen state attorneys general concerning the addictive nature of its feed and its detrimental effects on children's mental health.

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TikTok is built with safety at its core.