Can I Sue TikTok?

Who May Be Able to Sue TikTok?

Several groups may be able to bring claims tied to youth harm linked to TikTok. Whether a case can be filed depends on the facts of each situation.

Parents and legal guardians

Parents or guardians may be able to sue TikTok for youth harm. This may apply if their child experienced mental-health harm after heavy TikTok use.

Young adults

Young adults may be able to sue TikTok for mental-health injuries. This may apply when TikTok use was heavy during childhood and harm appeared later.

School districts

Some school districts have sued over costs they say are related to TikTok harm to youth. These districts point to added needs such as:

• Mental-health support,
• Disciplinary issues, and
• Other school-related impacts

Why Some People Are Suing TikTok

People suing TikTok claim the app uses design choices that encourage heavy use by minors. They claim that extended use is tied to mental health harm in some young users. Other claims focus on features built to hold attention.

People suing say these features expose minors to harmful or extreme content.

Background on TikTok

TikTok was built by ByteDance and launched after the success of Douyin. The app spread beyond China and attracted users across many countries.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, its use grew in the United States and abroad. This growth expanded TikTok’s presence in the social short-form video industry.

Features and Impact of TikTok

According to a New York Times report, TikTok shows users a steady stream of short videos. The stream of videos the user sees in their feed is selected by the platform. The feed is based on viewing behavior, even when users follow no other accounts.

TikTok also provides tools that encourage video creation, including:

• Popular sounds,
• Challenges, and
• Response features

The reporting notes that this setup can result in long viewing stretches. During viewing sessions, videos appear back-to-back and sessions have no clear end point.

Why People Say They Are Suing TikTok Over Youth Mental Health

TikTok has been named in a federal Multidistrict Litigation (MDL), along with other major platforms. This MDL is composed of many individual lawsuits from around the country.

People suing allege that attention-driven features expose minors to:

• Harmful content, and
• Repeated use patterns

More than a dozen state attorneys general have also sued TikTok. States allege the platform was:

• designed to keep young users watching, and
• misleading to the public about mental-health risks.

States assert that internal research allegedly linked repeated use to:

• Anxiety,
• Reduced focus, and
• Disruption to sleep, school, and relationships

In 2018, the BBC reported on statements from industry insiders. The insiders claimed social media apps are built to keep users returning.

TikTok Features Discussed in the Claims

People suing TikTok argue that the app’s layout plays a role in how long minors stay on it. The claims focus on features they say that shape viewing habits and may limit natural breaks. These are features discussed in lawsuits and filings related to the MDL:

• The “For You” feed selects videos based on prior viewing and interaction. Lawsuits say this leads to long viewing sessions.
• According to lawsuits, short videos begin automatically and play in rapid succession.
• People suing say endless scroll does not provide a stopping screen.
• Lawsuits claim Trends and challenges prompt repeat viewing and imitation.
• Time spent watching remains difficult to track, which plaintiffs say affects young users.

Some Health Research Referenced in the Claims

Public health warnings

A U.S. Surgeon General advisory warned that engagement-based designs can expose teens to mental-health risks. These concerns include depression, anxiety, sleep problems, eating-disorder issues, and self-harm.

Time spent on social media

Researchers have also studied usage time. A study published in JAMA Psychiatry of youth ages 12 to 15 examined social media use. The study found higher mental-health risk among those who spent more than three hours per day on social media.

Exposure to self-harm content

Other studies examine content exposure. A review in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry found an association between adolescent exposure to self-harm material and distress. The review also linked this exposure to suicidal thoughts.

Why platforms keep users checking

Behavioral science helps explain usage patterns. Neuroscience research shows that unpredictable rewards can trigger dopamine responses. Variable notifications are one example linked to repeated checking.

How researchers measure risk

Clinicians also rely on screening tools. One example is the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale. These measures include preoccupation, mood change, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, and relapse.

How TikTok Handles Time

WIRED describes TikTok as an app with few time markers. Users do not see when a video was uploaded, and the device clock is hidden during use. Videos from weeks or months ago can appear beside recent posts. Researchers cited by WIRED say this design helps explain why users can lose track of time while watching.

Types of Claims Brought Against TikTok

Design-defect claims cite features such as autoplay, infinite scroll, algorithm-selected feeds, notifications, and reward loops. People suing say these features encourage use by minors.

Failure-to-warn claims state that parents and minors were not clearly informed about certain risks. These risks include depression, anxiety, eating disorders, sleep disruption, self-harm, and related harms.

Claims of negligence include weak parental controls and age checks that are easy to get around. People suing also point to limited safety tools and systems they say may expose minors to harmful content.

Winder Law Firm is gathering information from individuals with potential legal claims who have been diagnosed with certain health conditions. Inquiries may be shared with a partner firm under a marketing arrangement.

How to Sue TikTok

Want to know how to file a lawsuit against TikTok for youth harm? Filing this type of lawsuit usually follows a process focused on eligibility review.

Steps might include:

• An initial conversation with a social media harm lawyer.
• Providing documentation related to app use and mental-health care.
• Review by counsel to assess whether the claim qualifies.
• Where appropriate, a case may be filed individually and, if accepted by the court, coordinated within MDL 3047.

Get a Free TikTok Lawsuit Evaluation

Note: Fill out the form or call to see if legal options may be available. Inquiries may be shared with a partner law firm under a marketing arrangement. The partner may assist with next steps.

If you are thinking about pursuing a claim involving TikTok, you may wish to speak with a lawyer. A free evaluation may help determine whether legal options exist.

Check eligibility here or request a free case evaluation to learn whether legal options may be available.