Did Pennsylvania sue TikTok? How the state is targeting the app

This week, 13 states and the District of Columbia announced they’ve filed lawsuits against TikTok , the popular video-sharing app.

The suits, filed separately, claim the platform harms young users by using addictive features designed to keep them on the app for long periods of time, leading to mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and sleep problems.

Did Pennsylvania sue TikTok?

New Jersey and New York are among the states that filed suit against TikTok, but Pennsylvania is not.

Generally, the suits argue TikTok targets children through ads but does little to protect those users from harm, including from dangerous “TikTok challenges” that have killed or injured young users.

The lawsuits take aim at TikTok’s autoplay videos, notifications, and beauty filters as tools that manipulate children into spending more time on the platform.

While Pennsylvania isn’t one of the states to sue TikTok, officials have tried to clamp down on its impact. Lawmakers have tried to move legislation that would ban the app from state-owned devices.

Gov. Josh Shapiro, whose office does use the app for official outreach, has strict safeguards in place, like using a dedicated device that is not connected to state networks.

When will TikTok be banned?

The lawsuits filed by 13 states — including New Jersey — and the District of Columbia do not mean TikTok will be immediately banned.

More likely, the company will be pressured to introduce changes to its platform to protect children and avoid further legal action.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Did Pennsylvania sue TikTok? How the state is targeting the app