It is the most successful application in recent years, a rocket within the realm of social media. It has surpassed the mighty Facebook, and nobody seems to be able to challenge it. Well, yes, there are certain states in the United States that are willing to go all out against it.
The legal battles of TikTok in the United States continue. On Tuesday, the Consumer Protection Division of the state of Utah (UDCP) announced that it was suing the application, alleging its harmful effects on children.
Utah’s lawsuit compares TikTok’s “powerful algorithms and manipulative design features” to “features of slot machines,” likening the application to gambling addiction.
According to the lawsuit, “TikTok is successfully capturing the attention of young consumers worldwide, twenty-four hours a day. The result (and intention) of these manipulative tactics is that young consumers become hooked, unable to escape the use of the app.”
TikTok exploits children
In the presentation, Attorney General Sean D. Reyes stated that the application “exploits” children and their parents by making them compulsively watch videos.
“What these children (and their parents) don’t know is that TikTok is lying to them about the safety of its app and exploiting them to compulsively check and view it, regardless of the terrible effects it has on their mental health, physical development, family, and social life,” he wrote.
“And while it’s highly profitable for TikTok, this excessive use is incredibly harmful to young users.”
The lawsuit, filed in a state court, has Utah seeking civil penalties and an injunction. The state claims that TikTok has violated Utah’s Consumer Sales Practices Act by having “engaged in deceptive acts and practices,” including misrepresenting safety and well-being on the app.
A statement from Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox asserts that the lawsuit comes after a “thorough investigation.” The statement claims that TikTok’s use “interferes” with the well-being of children, also stating that young people’s mental health issues have rapidly increased just as “TikTok’s popularity has surged.”
This is just the latest challenge for TikTok in the United States, where the application has faced scrutiny at both the state and federal levels.
