Illinois sues TikTok for its harmful business practices targeting children

(The Center Square) – The state of Illinois is going after another social media company.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that Illinois is joining 13 other states in a lawsuit against the social media platform TikTok. The lawsuit claims TikTok includes design features that they say make children addicted to the platform. Joining the lawsuit were California, the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, New Jersey, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont and Washington.

“The addictive features on TikTok’s social media platform interfere with sleep and education, and contribute to depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia and thoughts of self-harm,” said Raoul.

Raoul also spotlighted TikTok’s use of beauty filters, which can let users appear thinner and younger, or apply virtual makeup to a face using AI.

The use of TikTok is pervasive among young people in the United States. In 2023, 63% of all Americans ages 13 to 17 who responded to a Pew Research survey reported using TikTok.

The bipartisan group of attorneys general is seeking to force TikTok to change product features that they argue are manipulative and harm teens. The suits are also asking courts to impose monetary penalties against the company.

“We strongly disagree with these claims, many of which we believe to be inaccurate and misleading," said TikTok spokesman Alex Haurek.

Last year, a coalition of states filed a similar lawsuit against Instagram and Facebook owner Meta, accusing the tech giant of failing to keep children safe on the apps. That case is still pending.

Last month, Raoul joined a coalition of 42 attorneys general calling on Congress to pass legislation requiring a U.S. surgeon general warning on all algorithm-driven social media platforms.