TMTPOST--A bipartisan group of 14 attorneys general from various states filed lawsuits on Tuesday against TikTok, accusing the platform of causing youth addiction and negatively impacting children's mental health.

The lawsuits target specific features of TikTok, such as its continuous scrolling content feed, challenge videos that sometimes promote risky behavior, and late-night push notifications that the attorneys general argue interfere with children's sleep.

Each lawsuit was filed separately by coalition members, co-led by New York Attorney General Letitia James and California Attorney General Rob Bonta. This legal action adds to the mounting pressure TikTok is facing, including a potential U.S. ban set for next year and a lawsuit from the Department of Justice over alleged unlawful data collection from minors.

In June, New York's governor signed legislation to regulate social media algorithms, which will require platforms to present content in chronological order for users under 18, potentially forcing TikTok to alter its operations. Additionally, in September, 42 state attorneys general urged U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to mandate warning labels on social media apps regarding their risks to young users.

A TikTok spokesperson responded to the allegations, saying, "We strongly disagree with these claims, many of which we believe to be inaccurate and misleading. We're proud of and remain deeply committed to the work we've done to protect teens and we will continue to update and improve our product."

The spokesperson highlighted the company’s proactive measures to safeguard users, such as removing suspected underage accounts and implementing safety features like default screen time limits and family pairing.

Additionally, TikTok faces scrutiny from various states and child advocacy groups over privacy concerns affecting young users. The attorneys general's October 8 lawsuits specifically cite the platform's popular "challenges," which they claim promote dangerous behaviors that have led to injuries and fatalities.

"Challenges are campaigns that encourage users to create and post specific types of videos on TikTok, such as performing certain dance routines or engaging in dangerous pranks," said New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is leading the multi-state effort. "Challenge videos are a cornerstone of the platform and rank among its most popular content."

The lawsuits note that numerous teenagers have harmed or even killed themselves or others while participating in viral pranks in pursuit of "likes," views, and followers—a foreseeable result of TikTok's engagement-driven design.

One case highlighted in the lawsuit involved a 15-year-old boy who died while "subway surfing," a trend where individuals ride on top of moving subway cars. After his death, his mother found TikTok videos related to subway surfing on his account.

While TikTok prohibits children under 13 from creating accounts and restricts certain content for users under 18, the lawsuits contend that children can easily circumvent these restrictions, gaining access to the platform that the company claims is safe for them.

The District of Columbia's lawsuit alleges that TikTok operates as an "unlicensed virtual economy" by allowing users to purchase TikTok Coins—an in-app currency—and send "gifts" to live streamers, who can cash them out for real money. TikTok takes a 50% commission on these transactions but has not registered as a money transmitter with the U.S. Treasury or local authorities.

Officials claim that TikTok's LIVE streaming feature often exploits teens for sexually explicit content, allowing the platform to function as a "virtual strip club" without age restrictions. The company profits from these financial transactions, raising concerns about exploitation.

The 14 attorneys general involved in the litigation aim to halt TikTok's use of these features, impose financial penalties for alleged illegal practices, and seek damages for users harmed by the platform.