Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has announced that the state is suing TikTok, alleging that its features violate state consumer protection laws.
Mr. Ellison, a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, said in a release Tuesday that the social media platform “ensnares young users in cycles of excessive use through app design features that prey on young people’s neurodevelopmental vulnerabilities.”
TikTok, Mr. Ellison said, uses multiple features to maximize a user’s time spent on the platform.
Those features include pairing live streaming with virtual currency, using data to offer users personalized recommendations for more content, a large number of push notifications, infinite scrolling, and photo and video filters that promote unrealistic appearances for people, Mr. Ellison said.
“This stuff is digital nicotine. Just like big tobacco designs its products to addict them, TikTok is working to create TikTok addicts, and the worst part is it’s working. TikTok is profiting, making big money and our kids are paying a heavy price,” Mr. Ellison said at a news conference according to Minneapolis TV station WCCO-TV.
The attorney general wants a Hennepin County District Court judge to force substantial changes in the way TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, operates. Mr. Ellison is also seeking penalties, including $25,000 per violation of Minnesota consumer protection laws.
In a statement to Minneapolis TV station KSTP-TV, a TikTok spokesperson disputed Mr. Ellison’s claims.
“This lawsuit is based on misleading and inaccurate claims … Teen accounts on TikTok come with 50+ features and settings designed to help young people safely express themselves, discover and learn. Through our Family Pairing tool, parents can view or customize 20+ content and privacy settings,” the spokesperson said.
