Attorney General Alan Wilson sues TikTok for violating South Carolina consumer protection laws
October 9, 2024
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson today joined a bipartisan coalition of 14 attorneys general in filing separate enforcement actions against TikTok for violations of state consumer protection laws. Attorney General Wilson’s action alleges that TikTok exploits and harms young users and deceives the public about the social media platform’s dangers.
“TikTok is knowingly addicting children to their platform and monetizing this behavior, all while deceiving parents about the safety of their business model,” said Attorney General Wilson.
Use of TikTok is pervasive among young people in the United States. In 2023, 63% of all Americans aged 13 to 17 who responded to a Pew Research survey reported using TikTok, and most teenagers in the U.S. were using TikTok daily. In today’s lawsuit, Attorney General Wilson alleges TikTok violated South Carolina consumer protection statutes.
TikTok’s misconduct arises from its underlying business model that focuses on maximizing young users’ time on the TikTok platform to enable the company to boost revenue from selling targeted advertising space. TikTok’s misconduct includes:
Deploying a business model that is designed to be addictive and maximize the time young users spend on the platform.
Using manipulative features, such as continuous scrolling, to keep kids and teens on the platform longer.
Marketing the platform and platform features to parents as safe for kids and teens online and in app stores.
Attorneys general from the following states join Attorney General Wilson today in filing separate enforcement actions against TikTok to hold it accountable for its role in the children’s mental health crisis: California, New York, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.
As of today, 23 attorneys general have filed actions against TikTok for its conduct toward youth, including existing actions filed by the attorneys general of Utah, Nevada, Indiana, New Hampshire, Nebraska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, and Texas.
