Ellison sues TikTok for exploiting kids with addictive design
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, alleging the platform’s addictive features exploit children and harm youth mental health.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed a landmark lawsuit against TikTok Inc., accusing the social media giant of deliberately designing addictive features that exploit young people and profit from their vulnerabilities. Filed August 19 in Hennepin County District Court, the case alleges TikTok violated state consumer protection laws by prioritizing profits over the health and safety of children.
This action follows Ellison’s 2023 federal lawsuit against Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, for similar practices.
Exploiting children for profit
The complaint argues TikTok’s app is built to trap attention and maximize screen time through features such as its recommendation algorithm, infinite scroll, push notifications, and appearance-altering filters. It also cites TikTok LIVE, which enables virtual gifting through unlicensed currency and has been tied to cases of sexual and financial exploitation of minors.
“If you know nothing else about TikTok, you know it’s extremely addicting,” Ellison said. “The addictiveness is the result of years of intentional decisions that TikTok’s leadership made in the pursuit of profit. Simply put, the more people TikTok can get addicted, the more money they make, and the more their users’ mental health suffers. This conduct is not just deeply immoral, it’s illegal.”
Mental health impact on youth
The lawsuit highlights the toll social media has taken on Minnesota’s young people. A recent survey found that 54% of 11th graders reported feeling down, depressed, or hopeless several days a week, while nearly 70% reported feeling anxious or on edge. Studies show heavy social media use can double the risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation in adolescents.
Experts note that teens are particularly vulnerable because brain regions tied to risk-taking and reward are highly sensitive during adolescence, while impulse control and decision-making centers are still developing. TikTok’s design takes advantage of this imbalance, fueling a cycle of compulsive use.
Illegal virtual economy
Ellison’s complaint also accuses TikTok of running an illegal money transmitter through TikTok LIVE. The system allows users, including minors, to exchange virtual gifts for money. Investigations have found this setup often leads to exploitation. TikTok’s own internal reviews acknowledged risks of grooming and sexualized transactions involving children.
What the lawsuit seeks
The Attorney General is asking the court to hold TikTok accountable, impose penalties, and force changes to the company’s operations in Minnesota. The suit also demands relief for the harm inflicted on children and families.
Ellison’s office is urging Minnesotans to share their experiences with TikTok’s impact on youth mental health through the Attorney General’s website at www.ag.state.mn.us/social-media.
A growing fight against Big Tech
The lawsuit against TikTok is part of a larger national reckoning over the role of social media in children’s lives. Ellison’s action puts Minnesota at the forefront of efforts to curb the harms of tech platforms that dominate young people’s time and attention.
Read the full press release at ag.state.mn.us.