Kentucky court allows attorney general's lawsuit against TikTok to proceed
Kentucky's attorney general sued TikTok in 2024 alleging its recommendation algorithm and infinite scrolling features intentionally exploit young users' developmental vulnerabilities and cause depression, anxiety, and sleep loss. A Scott County judge rejected TikTok's motion to dismiss in February 2026, allowing the case to proceed toward trial.
What happened
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman filed a lawsuit in 2024 against TikTok alleging that the platform's algorithmic recommendation system and infinite scrolling features contribute to excessive or compulsive use among young users.
The lawsuit alleged that TikTok intentionally designed the platform to exploit developmental vulnerabilities in young users, misrepresented safety features and content controls, and failed to address easy accessibility to child sexual abuse material.
TikTok filed a motion to dismiss, arguing lack of personal jurisdiction, First Amendment violation, and failure to state a claim. The court rejected all arguments, ruling that TikTok's design choices were directed at Kentucky residents and that the Commonwealth presented sufficient facts showing intentional exploitation of minors.
Reported impact
The lawsuit alleged that TikTok's practices led to depression, anxiety, altered development, and lack of sleep among Kentucky's young people.
By addicting young people to endless hours on the platform, TikTok could target them with continuous advertisements and generate substantial profits, the lawsuit claimed.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.