And it’s suing. Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes filed suit against TikTok this week alleging that the platform uses casino-inspired addictive features to get kids hooked on its content. The suit alleges that the popular social media platform’s “For You” recommendation algorithm lures in young users and leaves them “unable to escape.”
In the complaint, Reyes allegedly links TikTok’s addictive features with a reported increase in teen depression in Utah. He accuses the company of violating the state’s Consumer Sales Practices Act by knowingly employing addictive features in order to keep young users coming back for more, to the point that it is harmful.
“The result (and intent) of these manipulative tactics is that young consumers become hooked, unable to escape using the app,” the lawsuit states. A TikTok spokesperson told Gizmodo that the company uses “industry-leading” safeguards to prevent harmful side effects from using its platform. These include a new 60-minute limit for users under 18, as well as parental controls.
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