Attorney General Bob Ferguson has initiated legal action against TikTok, accusing the social media platform of prioritizing profits over the mental health of young users. The lawsuit, filed in King County Superior Court, is part of a broader bipartisan effort involving 13 other attorneys general who have launched similar suits.
Ferguson's complaint alleges that TikTok violated the state Consumer Protection Act by targeting youth with features designed to encourage compulsive use. The lawsuit also claims that TikTok made misleading public statements about its safety and content moderation practices despite internal research indicating risks to young users. A significant portion of the complaint includes material deemed confidential by TikTok, which Ferguson is seeking to have unsealed by the court.
Research suggests excessive social media use correlates with poor mental health outcomes among children and adolescents, particularly young girls. Ferguson contends that TikTok's protections for young users are insufficient despite claims to provide a safe experience.
"I am one of the millions of parents across Washington who knows firsthand the hold TikTok and other social media apps have on kids," Ferguson stated. "TikTok is deceiving young people and their parents when it claims to look out for the safety of young users."
This lawsuit follows a previous suit filed nearly a year ago against Meta, parent company of Instagram and Facebook, alleging similar misconduct. Both companies are accused of using business models that maximize user engagement through addictive features like infinite scroll and autoplay.
The lawsuit also highlights concerns over age verification practices at TikTok. Despite implementing "Kids Mode" for younger users, many under-13 individuals reportedly bypass these restrictions by providing false birth dates.
The action against TikTok results from an investigation initiated in 2021 by state attorneys general nationwide. Other states involved include California, New York, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont and the District of Columbia.
The attorneys general aim to halt what they describe as unlawful practices by TikTok and enforce reforms such as improved screen time limits for youth and enhanced age verification processes. Civil penalties under Washington's Consumer Protection Act could reach up to $12,500 per violation after enhancements.
Experts agree that excessive social media use can lead to various physical and psychological harms among children and adolescents. Recent studies indicate adolescents spending more than three hours daily on social media face increased risks of depression and anxiety symptoms.
In October 2023, Ferguson joined a coalition suing Meta over similar allegations regarding harmful features targeting youth on Facebook and Instagram platforms. That case is currently being litigated in California's Northern District.