Judge Allows Lawsuit Alleging TikTok's AI Recommendations Harm Minors' Mental Health
A New York judge rejected TikTok's motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by fourteen state attorneys general in 2023, alleging the company designed its recommendation algorithm to addict minors and knowingly caused mental health harms including anxiety, depression, and dangerous behaviors.
What happened
A New York state judge denied TikTok's motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed in October 2023 by fourteen state attorneys general, allowing the case to proceed.
The lawsuit accuses TikTok of designing its platform to be addictive and deliberately targeting minors for profit, with algorithms that prioritize content harmful to adolescent mental health.
Reported impact
According to the New York Attorney General, TikTok's viral challenges have endangered minors, with some hospitalized, injured, or killed as a result of dangerous activities promoted on the platform.
The lawsuit alleges that prolonged use of TikTok has caused anxiety, depression, and body image disorders among young users.
Index analysis
The complaint alleges TikTok violates consumer protection laws by falsely claiming the platform is safe for minors while concealing the negative effects of its algorithms.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.