RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) – Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares sued TikTok and its parent company ByteDance on Friday saying the app “was intentionally designed to be addictive” for children.
“For years, TikTok has marketed itself to Virginians and Americans alike as a harmless, safe, and enjoyable social media app,” said Attorney General Jason Miyares. “Yet the facts of the matter are that TikTok harms our kids and exposes them to severe profanity, sexually explicit material, violence, mature themes, and drug and alcohol content.”
The lawsuit comes on the same day the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a TikTok ban set to take effect Sunday if it doesn’t find a buyer.
“TikTok continues to misrepresent the potential for the Chinese government to access and exploit Virginians’ data,” Miyares said. “… I will use the Virginia Consumer Protection Act to shield all Virginians, and especially our children, from this deceptive and harmful conduct.”
He says TikTok deceived parents about the app’s content by claiming the app is appropriate for children over the age of 12.
“TikTok has crossed a line, and today will be asked to pay a price,” Miyares said.
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