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TikTok to pay Alabama $100m and limit teenage use in first state settlement

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TikTok to pay Alabama $100m and limit teenage use in first state settlement

Trial had been set for Monday over claims by Alabama that TikTok misled parents about tools meant to shield children from harmful content

TikTok has agreed to pay Alabama at least $100m and enact time limits and other restrictions for teenage users, avoiding a trial with a settlement that was modelled on Instagram-owner Meta’s recent agreement with US states.

Alabama described it as a “first-in-the-nation settlement” with a state in the sweeping litigation over social media’s affect on teen wellbeing.

A trial had been set to begin on Monday in the southern US state over claims by Alabama that TikTok misled parents about tools meant to shield children from harmful content.

TikTok’s settlement with Alabama mirrors safety provisions agreed by Meta, including a two-hour daily time limit for teens, restricted access from midnight to 6am, and suspending notifications during school hours.

It will also strengthen age verification, ban beauty filters for teenagers, and offer young users a non-personalised content feed.

Attorney general Steve Marshall hailed Friday’s settlement as “a great day for Alabama parents”. He said: “Tonight, they can rest easier knowing real protections are in place to shield their children from the dangers of social media addiction.”

Under the settlement, TikTok will send $100m to Alabama and could possibly pay up to $300m in total if 40 other attorneys general sign similar agreements with the company within a specified timeframe.

Alabama’s suit was the latest in a wave of litigation targeting social media companies across the United States about alleged harm their apps cause young users.


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