Nebraska sues TikTok over harmful content and deceptive marketing to children
Nebraska's attorney general sued TikTok in May 2024, alleging the platform violated consumer protection laws by designing its algorithm to be addictive and showing children harmful content while marketing the app as safe. Multiple state attorneys general subsequently joined similar lawsuits against the platform.
What happened
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers filed a lawsuit against TikTok in May 2024 alleging that the platform violated consumer protection laws through deceptive and unfair business practices by designing the platform to be addictive and harmful while marketing it as family-friendly and safe.
On 23 October 2024, a Nebraska district judge heard TikTok's arguments for dismissing the lawsuit, in which TikTok contested the state's personal jurisdiction over it and whether Nebraska had stated a cognizable cause of action. No ruling was issued at that time.
Reported impact
According to Nebraska's Attorney General, TikTok's algorithm showed children inappropriate content within minutes of registration, including videos promoting suicidal ideation, depression, body image problems, eating disorders, drug consumption, and sexually inappropriate content.
By October 2024, 23 state attorneys general had sued TikTok over similar allegations that the platform harms children and misrepresents its safety.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.