Arizona sues TikTok for using addictive features to target children

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 00:24 · Archive

Arizona's attorney general has filed a consumer protection lawsuit against TikTok, alleging the company deliberately designed its app to be addictive to minors.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has filed a consumer protection lawsuit against TikTok and related entities in Maricopa County Superior Court. The lawsuit alleges widespread violations of the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act through deliberate design choices intended to addict children under thirteen.

Mayes claims TikTok deployed manipulative tactics including infinite scrolling, auto-play, reward loops featuring harmful content, social comparison metrics, push notifications and appearance-altering filters. These features are designed to keep young people engaged as long and as often as possible so the company can profit from their data, according to the complaint.

The attorney general alleges TikTok concealed the severe mental, physical and emotional health risks these design choices create. The lawsuit accuses the platform of contributing to increased risk of depression, anxiety, sleep disruption, disordered eating, body image distress and self-harm among young people. Mayes also said TikTok fails to protect children from adults using the platform to groom or solicit minors, despite marketing itself as safe for young users.

Mayes stated that TikTok designed one of the most addictive products targeted at children and engineered the platform to exploit the vulnerabilities of developing brains.

How it is being reported

• Arizona AG sues TikTok for hiding features that addict, endanger childrenKris Mayes accused TikTok of contributing to increased risk of “depression, anxiety, sleep disruption, disordered eating, body image distress, and self harm” among young people.Azfamily · 8 Oct, 23:39
• Arizona AG sues TikTok for hiding features that addict, endanger childrenKris Mayes accused TikTok of contributing to increased risk of “depression, anxiety, sleep disruption, disordered eating, body image distress, and self harm” among young people.KOLD · 8 Oct, 23:39

In this story: Kris Mayes · TikTok · Arizona

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