Florida has filed a civil suit accusing TikTok of breaking a state law that limits teenagers’ use of social media and of misleading parents about mature content on the platform. Attorney General James Uthmeier said the app’s design fosters prolonged use among minors, with some youths reportedly spending six to eight hours or more daily on TikTok. The complaint, filed in St. Lucie County, argues the platform’s content merits a higher age rating and accuses TikTok of deceiving parents; TikTok says it is reviewing the complaint and updating its app to comply with the law.
Florida Sues TikTok, Alleging Violation Of State Law Restricting Teens’ Social Media Access
TikTok Inc offices in Culver City, California, on 20 March 2024.Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images(Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images)
Florida on Monday filed a civil lawsuit accusing TikTok of violating a state law that restricts social media access for teenagers and of misleading parents about the prevalence of mature content on the platform.
State Officials' Claims
At a news conference, Republican Attorney General James Uthmeier said the company exposed children to explicit sexual material and relied on addictive design features such as endless scrolling and persistent push notifications. “It’s designed to keep kids stuck on those screens for hours,” Uthmeier said. “Our evidence suggests that so many kids are on TikTok for upwards of six, seven, eight or more hours a day. We are going to get our kids their lives back.”
What The Lawsuit Alleges
The complaint, filed in St. Lucie County, argues TikTok breached a Florida law enacted last year that bars children under 14 from using social media and requires parental permission for 15- and 16-year-olds to create accounts. The suit contends TikTok has "actively deceived Florida parents about the risks of allowing their teens to access this platform."
Florida officials say TikTok has downplayed the frequency of mature content on the app — including depictions related to drugs, nudity, alcohol and profanity — calling it “infrequent.” The lawsuit argues that the volume and nature of that content would more appropriately justify a 16+ or 18+ age rating, rather than the platform’s current 13+ rating, which would enable parental phone restrictions that could block many children from downloading the app.
TikTok's Response And Broader Legal Context
TikTok said it is reviewing the state’s complaint and continuing to update its app in Florida to comply with state law. “TikTok is built with safety at its core,” a company spokesperson said in a statement.
The Florida suit is the latest in a wave of legal actions against TikTok: roughly two dozen state attorneys general have already filed lawsuits alleging the app’s algorithmic feed and other features are addictive and can harm young users’ mental health.
Where This Could Lead: If the court sides with Florida and regulators press for stricter ratings or enforcement, parental controls could block downloads for younger teens and require more robust age-verification or consent mechanisms from the platform.
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