Utah has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, accusing the social media giant of exploiting children for profit while disregarding ethical concerns. The lawsuit highlights the platform’s alleged prioritization of revenue generation over the mental health and well-being of its young users.
Utah’s legal action comes amidst growing criticism of TikTok’s algorithms, which reportedly promote harmful content to minors, contributing to mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and addictive behavior. The state argues that TikTok deliberately targets children with content designed to increase engagement and maximize profits, despite being aware of its potential psychological and social impacts.
Governor Spencer Cox emphasized that companies like TikTok must be held accountable for the harm they cause to younger generations, accusing the platform of ignoring the ethical implications of its business model. The lawsuit seeks stricter regulations and penalties for TikTok’s practices.
This legal move aligns with a broader wave of scrutiny against social media companies in the U.S., as concerns over data privacy, child safety, and ethical business practices continue to grow.
According to the lawsuit, TikTok was aware of concerning interactions between adults and children during live streams but failed to take action to prevent them. Instead, the company allegedly profited from the sale of virtual gifts exchanged during these streams, earning a commission through its digital gifting system.
Investigations by Forbes revealed that hundreds of thousands of children bypassed TikTok’s age restrictions to host live streams. The lawsuit claims TikTok’s algorithms promoted these streams to a broader audience, raising ethical concerns about the platform’s impact on minors.
Utah’s legal challenge aims to hold TikTok accountable for its alleged negligence and exploitation, spotlighting broader concerns over the platform’s responsibility to protect vulnerable users.
According to Reuters, in addition to the lawsuit filed by Utah, TikTok is also under investigation as part of an operation known as “Project Jupiter.” This probe focuses on the alleged use of TikTok’s gifting feature during live streams for money laundering and illegal activities. Investigators found that some criminals exploited the feature to facilitate drug sales and launder money.
In response to Utah’s lawsuit, TikTok stated that the claims overlook the platform’s preventative measures and safety features, including screen time limits and parental controls. The company described the allegations as distorted and asserted its commitment to user safety.
These developments place TikTok under increasing scrutiny over its management of live-streaming features and their potential misuse, raising questions about the platform’s broader ethical and regulatory responsibilities.