US states filed a lawsuit against TikTok on the grounds that it harms the mental health of young people

ByteDance, owner of the social network TikTok, has become the target of lawsuits in different states of the USA. Chinese company is accused Maintaining a digital tool that harms mental health children and adolescents.

The cases were filed in the district courts this Tuesday (8), which means they will be considered separately and may have different consequences. They are all the result of investigations conducted by prosecutors from various districts since 2022, bringing together both conservative and progressive representatives.

“It benefits from making young people addicted to the platform” says Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb.

ByteDance has not commented on the new processes so far; The company also risks the social network being suspended across the country if the ban approved by Joe Biden and approved by parliamentarians actually continues. There is no date for new trials yet.

Which cases are criticized on TikTok?

The main argument of the lawsuits is this: TikTok algorithm and content recommendation tabsLike Para Você (For You), gets kids addicted to the platform and becomes “dopamine triggers” To spend young hours without taking your eyes off the screen.

They are also listed as harmful Infinite scrolling feature of the screen and high number of notifications which prevents users from being disconnected from the service on mobile phones. All these peopleprofound psychological and physiological damage“According to the lawsuit, he is from the District of Columbia, which was one of the places that formalized the case.

Other features of the platform are also subject to criticism, like TikTok Coins and sending paid gifts to streamersproduces a “unlicensed virtual economy” and adult content is circulating in an environment frequented by minors.

Image filters also attract the attention of authorities because they make changes to the skin and even the body. creating a feeling of discomfort with appearance and standardization This is harmful to young people.

In a recent interview, Meta CEO and Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg dismissed the idea that there is a relationship between social networking and young people’s mental health. However, research conducted in previous years has revealed negative effects, especially on young girls on Instagram.