{"id":270203,"date":"2026-08-22T14:48:08","date_gmt":"2026-08-22T14:48:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/270203\/"},"modified":"2026-08-22T14:48:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T14:48:08","slug":"pennsylvania-ag-sues-tiktok-over-deceptive-content-ratings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/270203\/","title":{"rendered":"Pennsylvania AG sues TikTok over \u2018deceptive\u2019 content ratings"},"content":{"rendered":"

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(Photo Credit: XanderSt\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n

TikTok lawsuit overview:<\/p>\n

Who: Pennsylvania Attorney General David Sunday filed a lawsuit against TikTok Inc., TikTok Ltd., TikTok Pte. Ltd., TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, ByteDance Ltd. and ByteDance Inc.<\/p>\n

Why: The lawsuit alleges TikTok misrepresented the content on its platform and used addictive design features to target young users.<\/p>\n

Where: The TikTok lawsuit was filed in Pennsylvania state court.<\/p>\n

How to get help: If you or your child developed signs of social media addiction before age 18 and was diagnosed with a related mental health condition, you may qualify to take part in a social media lawsuit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pennsylvania Attorney General David Sunday has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, accusing the social media platform of misrepresenting its content and using addictive design features to target young users.<\/p>\n

The lawsuit, filed in Pennsylvania state court on Aug. 11, claims TikTok deceived consumers by downplaying the prevalence of mature content on its platform and implementing features designed to keep users, including minors, engaged for extended periods.<\/p>\n

According to Sunday, TikTok misled consumers and app stores about the amount of alcohol, drug use, sex and violence on its platform to secure a \u201c13+\u201d rating. This rating allowed the app to be marketed to children as young as 13, opening the door for children to access the platform, the TikTok child harm lawsuit claims.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want the app to be honestly marketed, with full disclosure of what the app contains, so parents understand what their kids are seeing,\u201d Sunday said in a press conference.<\/p>\n

The TikTok lawsuit argues that the platform\u2019s content rating should be higher due to the frequency of mature and intense themes. The complaint alleges that TikTok\u2019s algorithm promotes content featuring profanity, sexual content and drug use to young users, making the app unsuitable for children.<\/p>\n

TikTok child harm lawsuit alleges app\u2019s \u2018restricted mode\u2019 ineffective<\/p>\n

Sunday claims TikTok\u2019s \u201crestricted mode,\u201d which is supposed to limit mature content, is ineffective. \u201cIt does not work and has never worked the way TikTok claims it does,\u201d the complaint alleges.<\/p>\n

In addition to misrepresenting its content, the lawsuit alleges the platform employs \u201ccoercive design tactics\u201d to increase user engagement. Addictive features like infinite scrolling and push notifications are designed to keep users, especially young ones, hooked on the app, the child harm complaint claims.<\/p>\n

\u201cTikTok does not tell Pennsylvania users or their parents that it intentionally implemented \u2018coercive design tactics\u2019 that manipulate young users to increase their habitual use of the platform, intentionally exploiting young users\u2019 inability to self-regulate,\u201d the TikTok lawsuit says.<\/p>\n

Sunday\u2019s lawsuit seeks injunctive relief to prevent TikTok from misleading consumers as well as civil penalties and attorney fees.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The lawsuit is part of a broader effort to hold social media companies accountable for their impact on young users, Sunday said.<\/p>\n

TikTok parent company ByteDance has implemented stricter controls for young users in other countries but has not done the same in the United States, the lawsuit claims.<\/p>\n

TikTok has denied the allegations, calling them \u201cmisleading and inaccurate.\u201d The company says it has implemented safety measures, including Family Pairing tools, to give parents control over screen time and content filters.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, four parents filed a lawsuit against Meta, Google, TikTok, Snap<\/a> and other social media companies, alleging they engineered addictive platforms, promoted harmful content and failed to warn families about the risks to children.<\/p>\n

What do you think of the allegations made in this TikTok lawsuit? Let us know in the comments.<\/p>\n

The commonwealth of Pennsylvania is represented by David Sunday, Jonathan R. Burns, Suzanne C. Bernstein and Jesse F. Harvey of the Pennsylvania Attorney General\u2019s Office and David H. Thompson, Brian W. Barnes, Megan M. Wold and Athanasia O. Livas of Cooper & Kirk PLLC.<\/p>\n

The TikTok lawsuit is Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. TikTok Inc., et al., no case number yet available, in the Court of Common Pleas for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:<\/p>\n

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