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Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, alleging the platform violates state child protection laws and misrepresents the content minors are exposed to on the app.
The complaint claims TikTok allows children under 14 to create accounts and does not obtain verified parental consent for users aged 15 and 16, both requirements under Florida law. It also accuses the company of downplaying the frequency of exposure to sexual content, drug and alcohol references, and profanity, which officials say is misleading to parents.
Uthmeier called the situation “a crisis,” saying some Florida children spend more than eight hours per day on the platform. He described TikTok as a highly addictive app built around features such as infinite scrolling and nonstop video feeds that keep young users engaged for long periods.
“Today, time is up for TikTok,” Uthmeier said at a press briefing. “TikTok happens to be one of the most egregious social media applications when it comes to the dangers that are there at the fingertips of kids. Harmful sexual content, addictive features. They design the application with unlimited scrolling, push notifications, videos that just go nonstop, and it’s designed to keep kids stuck on those screens for hours and hours a day.”
The state says the company could face billions of dollars in damages if found liable.
Florida’s law, HB 3, is among the strictest in the country. It prohibits social media accounts for users under 14 and requires verified parental consent for ages 15 and 16.
TikTok has faced similar legal challenges in more than two dozen states. A company spokesperson said the platform already includes more than 50 safety and privacy tools for teens and is continuing to update its systems to comply with Florida law. The spokesperson also said the company has been in contact with state officials throughout the process.
TikTok has begun notifying Florida users under 14 that their accounts will be suspended.
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