World · Malaysia Bureau
TikTok to pay USD116 million to settle Alabama lawsuit over youth harm
The short-form video platform has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by Alabama authorities alleging its design features encourage excessive use among young users. The settlement represents one of the largest cases brought against TikTok by a U.S. state.
LSN Malaysia ·
TikTok has agreed to pay USD116 million to resolve a lawsuit brought by the state of Alabama, marking a significant settlement in ongoing regulatory scrutiny of the Chinese-owned platform's impact on minors.
The lawsuit centred on allegations that TikTok's platform design deliberately encourages excessive usage among young users through features and algorithms that prioritise engagement over user wellbeing. Alabama authorities argued the company's practices posed risks to the mental and physical health of teenagers and younger children.
The settlement comes amid increasing pressure on social media platforms across the United States to address concerns about their effects on youth. Several states and advocacy groups have launched similar legal actions, questioning whether platforms adequately disclose or mitigate the addictive nature of their services.
TikTok has not admitted wrongdoing as part of the settlement agreement. The platform has previously stated it is committed to user safety and has implemented various parental controls and usage limits for younger users.
The Alabama case represents one of the largest financial penalties TikTok has faced from individual U.S. states, underscoring the mounting legal and regulatory challenges facing the platform in Western markets.