Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, alleging the platform's harmful business practices exploit children's vulnerabilities.
This legal action, part of a bipartisan effort with 13 other states, targets TikTok’s addictive features that keep young users engaged for extended periods.
According to Raoul, TikTok’s business model contributes to a growing mental health crisis among children and teenagers by promoting compulsive use, which interferes with sleep, education, and mental well-being.
The lawsuit claims that TikTok misleads the public by marketing itself as a safe platform for minors while prioritizing profits.
Raoul argues that TikTok's algorithms and features exacerbate conditions like anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia, and even self-harm.
Despite having mechanisms that could better protect young users, TikTok allegedly opts not to deploy them in the U.S.
This lawsuit follows Raoul’s recent legal action against Meta, accusing Facebook and Instagram of similar harmful practices toward minors.
The U.S. Surgeon General’s findings support these claims, linking excessive social media use to negative mental health outcomes in adolescents.
Raoul, along with other attorneys general, continues to push for legislative reforms to protect children from harmful online platforms, while urging young people in crisis to seek help through resources like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
