Hawaii sues TikTok parent company ByteDance over claims the app poses risk to children

The State of Hawaii has formally filed a lawsuit against TikTok’s parent company ByteDance over claims that the app poses a serious risk of harm to children.

Since first launching on the international stage back in 2017, TikTok has rapidly become one of the post popular social media platforms on the planet, with an estimated 150 million U.S. users logging onto the app every day.

Yet while for some, the app is a simple way to pass the time, a 106-page filing in Hawaii’s first circuit has alleged that TikTok has been specifically designed to become dangerously addictive for young users.

Hitting out at the app, Hawaii’s Attorney General Anne Lopez drew attention to specific details in the app’s design that are engineered to encourage users to spend as much time as possible on the platform, such as endless scrolling, likes, push notifications and in particular the ‘For You’ feed.

She also highlighted that the more time users spend on the app, the more beneficial it is for ByteDance, as it generates more personal data and more advertising revenue for TikTok.

The lawsuit has expressed concerns over the impact TikTok has on young people (JohnnyGreig/Getty Images)

The complaint also draws parallels between Tiktok’s algorithm and tactics used by the gambling industry, specifically the way all of the features have been designed to influence neurobiology and the production of dopamine.

The addictive potential is arguably harmful to all users, but attorneys are especially concerned about the impact it could have on younger users who are unable to self-regulate their own screen-time.

A large proportion of TikTok’s US users are under 18, with around 68.2 percent under the age of 13.

The latest legal action isn’t the first time TikTok has found itself in hot water either, as the company was previously sued twice by the US government for breaches of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.

But as part of the new lawsuit, attorneys allege that TikTok has failed to make it clear to users, parents and members of the public of the risk the app could potentially pose.

The State has also raised concerns over what it deems ‘inadequate’ age verification tools used to assure users are old enough to use the platform and are sufficiently protected from harmful content. It also accused the app of deliberately exploiting children for financial gain.

The lawsuit hopes greater protections and transparency can be put in place to protect young people (The Good Brigade / Getty Images)

"TikTok has long known about the mental health risks its platform poses, particularly on our children and young adults. At the heart of this lawsuit is a deep concern for the safety and well-being of our community. We must stand up for our families and ensure that the necessary reforms are put in place to protect our communities from exploitation," Lopez wrote in a statement.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green also weighed in, stating that TikTok’s design creates an environment where ‘addiction and anxiety thrive.’

"As leaders, it’s our responsibility to protect our youth from platforms that prioritize profit over their health," Green wrote in a statement. "This lawsuit is a crucial step in holding TikTok accountable for the harm it’s causing and ensuring that our children can safely navigate the digital world."

A TikTok spokesperson told Tyla: "This lawsuit is based on misleading and inaccurate claims that fail to recognize the robust safety measures TikTok has voluntarily implemented to support the well-being of our community. In the seven years since the app launched, we have invested billions of dollars in Trust & Safety, and rolled out 50+ preset safety, privacy, and security settings for teens, including private accounts, content restrictions, and screen time tools."