What’s next for Tiktok after Trump’s tariffs delayed the transaction?
President Donald Trump said that if he agrees to the Tiktok deal, he will be open to negotiating China’s tariffs.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced last week that the state is filing a lawsuit against Tiktok Inc. and Bytedance Inc. to hold businesses accountable for the mental health crisis against Alabama youth.
Here’s what we know:
What is Tiktok?
Tiktok is the social media app best known for its short form videos that keep users scrolling for hours. Creators can upload videos that are as long as seconds or up to 10 minutes.
The secret source of the app? Personalized “Your Page” with innovative algorithms that provide content based on what you want to see. Expect lots of songs, dance, lip sync and viral comedies.
But as Alabama lawmakers challenge Tiktok’s algorithm in their lawsuits, their “secret source” is being attacked, claiming it is designed for addicts, especially young people.
Why was the lawsuit filed against Tiktok, Alabama?
In the Alabama lawsuit, Tiktok’s algorithm is built to keep children hooked and push an endless stream of content that encourages depression, eating disorders, self-harm and drug use.
The lawsuit argues that Tiktok’s protections against minors are easy to avoid and that they have not done enough to protect young users.
What safety measures does Tiktok take for young people?
According to the Tiktok website, the platform is recommended for users over the age of 12 with parental guidance. In the US, children under the age of 13 are offered a limited “view only” app version.
Tiktok says that teens can switch to public settings, but by default, all accounts for users under the age of 18 will start as private. Users under the age of 18 also have a screen time limit of 60 minutes per day. Users under the age of 16 are not permitted to use direct messaging or live. Content does not appear on the app’s popular “For You” page.
Tiktok offers a tool called “Family Pailing.” This allows parents and guardians to connect their accounts to their teens. This feature allows adults to set screen time limits and a passcode is required if teens want more time on the app.
Parents can also filter specific keywords to control what appears in their child’s “For You” feed. You can also manage your comment settings.
The Alabama lawsuit also shows concern over youth data
Another claim in the lawsuit accuss Tiktok’s parent company, Baitedan, of collecting sensitive data about Americans and sharing it with the Chinese government. Attorney General Marshall argues that the ordinance is based in China and therefore is subject to laws requiring businesses to cooperate with China’s intelligence reporting agency.
Marshall argues that Tiktok and Baitedans are engaged in espionage by leveraging personal information, particularly data belonging to minors.
What does the lawsuit seek?
The lawsuit seeks civil penalties based on Alabama’s deceptive trade practices law and compensatory and punitive damages against the state. It also seeks a court order requiring Tiktok to stop what Tiktok calls deceptive practices related to the safety of young people.
A copy of the complaint can be found here.
Jennifer Lindar is a broken trend reporter for the Deep South Connect team at Gannett/USA Today. Connect with her at x @jenn_lindahl and email jlindahl @gannett.com.