Minnesota has joined a growing list of states suing TikTok, arguing that the platform’s addictive algorithms encourage excessive consumer behavior among young users.
“This isn’t about freedom of speech—I’m sure that’s what they’ll shout,” said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison during a news conference. “What this really concerns is deception, operations, and misrepresentation. Companies are aware of the dangers associated with their products, yet they do nothing to mitigate those risks or inform users about them.”
The lawsuit filed in state court claims TikTok breaches Minnesota’s laws related to deceptive trade practices and consumer fraud. This follows a wave of more than twenty states filing similar lawsuits last year, accusing the popular short video app of negatively impacting children’s mental health. Minnesota’s action brings the total to around 24 states, according to Ellison’s office.
Many of these initial cases arose from a national survey of TikTok launched in 2022 by a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general from 14 states, focusing on the app’s effects on the mental health of young users. Ellison noted that he plans to wait while Minnesota investigates further.
Sean Padden, a health teacher at a local middle school, expressed support for Ellison, highlighting a troubling connection between increasing TikTok use and significant rises in students’ mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, and difficulties with attention.
This lawsuit unfolds against the backdrop of ongoing discussions around TikTok’s ownership. Former President Donald Trump has been trying to negotiate a deal that would place the platform under U.S. control, amid concerns about data security affecting 170 million American users. Although Trump has previously campaigned to ban TikTok, he’s gained a considerable following on the platform since sharing his own videos.
Ellison emphasized that even if TikTok were to become U.S.-owned, it would still need to operate within legal boundaries.
TikTok has responded to Minnesota’s allegations, asserting that the lawsuit is based on misleading claims. The company pointed out the substantial safety measures in place designed to support the well-being of its community. TikTok highlighted features such as over 50 settings aimed at helping teens engage safely with the platform.
Moreover, TikTok mentioned its family pairing tool, which allows parents to monitor or adjust privacy and content settings, including managing screen time and content filters.
Minnesota is seeking to classify TikTok’s practices as deceptive and unfair, pushing for a permanent injunction against such behaviors along with potential fines of up to $25,000 for every instance involving Minnesota children accessing the app. Although Ellison didn’t provide a total figure, he implied it would amount to a significant sum, estimating that “hundreds of thousands of Minnesota children” are using TikTok on their devices.
“We’re not looking to put them out of business,” Ellison stated. “What we want is for them to amend their practices. Apps like TikTok can have legitimate uses, but, like anything else, they have to be used responsibly and safely.”
This lawsuit adds to a series of legal challenges faced by other platforms like Meta for Instagram and Facebook, as well as Snapchat and Roblox, all accused of contributing to harm among children.
