US state attorneys general coalition to investigate health risks of TikTok for young users News
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US state attorneys general coalition to investigate health risks of TikTok for young users

A coalition of US state attorneys general Wednesday announced a nationwide investigation into whether video-sharing social media platform TikTok’s design and promotion intensify physical and mental health harms for young users and violate consumer protection laws.

In light of the anxiety, depression and social pressure faced by young people, a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general led by those from California, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, Tennessee and Vermont will probe potential harms arising out of using TikTok and the extent to which TikTok knew of these harms. Among other issues, the coalition will focus on the strategies used by TikTok to increase engagement in terms of duration spent on the platform and frequency of usage.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey stated that attorneys general had a responsibility to protect young people and “seek more information” about the influence social media platforms have on their lives. California Attorney General Rob Bonta expressed concern about the pressures on young people to match the “filtered versions of reality” on social media platforms.

In May 2021, 44 attorneys general urged Facebook (now renamed Meta) to abandon its plans to launch Instagram Kids—a version of Instagram tailored to users under 13 years old. Whistleblower Frances Haugen revealed Facebook, which owns Instagram, was aware of the negative influence Instagram had on the self-image of some of its teenage users and testified in Congress. Coupled with severe public flak and media reports, this led to work on the platform being paused in September.

A coalition of US state attorneys general then launched an investigation into Facebook in November for the health risks associated with usage of its subsidiary Instagram. Several Congress members stated in hearings on the issue that they heard from families where teenage girls experienced eating disorders and self-harm due to harmful content on Instagram. At his recent State of the Union Address, President Joe Biden opined social media platforms were conducting a “national experiment” on children for profit.

For years, lawmakers have proposed regulations on social media platforms to prevent harm to young users, such as banning social media platforms from collecting personal and location information from users under 13 years old without parental consent. Lawmakers have also suggested banning features like autoplay, which makes platforms more addictive, for platforms designed for children.

TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, welcomed the coalition and voiced its concern for the well-being of its community.

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