Florida files lawsuit accusing TikTok of violating state child social media law

Florida filed a civil lawsuit against TikTok on Monday alleging the platform violated a state law that restricts social media access for minors. The suit, filed in St. Lucie County, claims the company exposed children to harmful sexual content and addictive features such as unlimited scrolling and push notifications.

State officials said the platform is designed to keep children on screens for hours. Evidence cited in the complaint indicates many users spend six, seven, or eight hours or more daily on the app.

State law and allegations Florida enacted the law last year.

It bans children under 14 from using social media platforms and requires parental permission for 15- and 16-year-olds to create accounts. The lawsuit argues that TikTok violated the law and deceived parents about the risks of allowing teens to access the platform.

Officials said the company falsely told parents that mature content including drugs, nudity, alcohol, and profanity appears infrequently. The complaint states that an honest assessment of mature content would warrant an age rating of over 16 or over 18 rather than the current over-13 rating.

Company response and other cases A company spokesperson said TikTok is built with safety at its core. The company stated it is evaluating the complaint and continuing to update its platform in Florida in response to state law. TikTok faces similar lawsuits from roughly two dozen other state attorneys general over claims about the addictive nature of its feed and mental health effects on children.