SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Aug. 19 filed a lawsuit against TikTok, claiming its addictive algorithm exploits children and violates Minnesota's consumer protection laws.
TikTok, which uses an algorithm to recommend content to its users, has creators who have launched reality television shows like "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" and offer book recommendations on "BookTok.”
Ellison's office said the app's features include TikTok LIVE from which users can livestream content to audience members. A Minnesota Attorney General's Office statement alleges TikTok operates "an illegal money transfer system through TikTok LIVE that (allows) the company to profit from the financial and sexual exploitation of children."
In the lawsuit's complaint, filed in Hennepin County District Court and reviewed by the St. Cloud Times, Ellison states TikTok's internal investigations reportedly show "hundreds of thousands of children" bypass the platform's minimum age restrictions for TikTok LIVE, exposing them to potential exploitation.
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"TikTok profited significantly from 'transactional gifting' involving nudity and sexual activity, all facilitated by TikTok’s virtual currency system," the civil complaint reads.
The social media platform restricts monetization to users 18 years old and older, and Ellison's office in the complaint called TikTok's age filter "lax and ineffective." Ellison argues TikTok targets children through its use of popular Disney characters and colorful, animated emojis, which it uses as digital currency.
Ellison, in the same civil complaint, alleges the social media platform targets users through the algorithm. He argues this creates a "habitual dependence" to allegedly further exploit children.
"By exploiting children’s unfinished neurological reward systems that drive desire and motivation, TikTok creates widespread habitual dependence on its app among young people," the civil complaint reads.
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Children between the ages of 13 and 17 years old check TikTok an average of 17 times a day, totaling to approximately two hours daily, according to the civil complaint that cites TikTok's own data. More than 20% of teenagers reportedly check the platform between midnight and 5 a.m.
Ellison also accuses the same algorithm of allegedly impacting youth mental health. In the civil complaint, Ellison cites a 2023 University of Minnesota study that claims the app has "harmful consequences to their (the users) well-being." The complaint further compares the purported symptoms to that of addicts, including excessive preoccupation, irritability, anxiety and increased interpersonal conflicts.
The civil complaint also alleges prolonged TikTok use increases body dissatisfaction, disordered eating behaviors, low self-esteem, self-harm and suicidal thoughts.
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President Donald Trump has less than one month to finalize the sale of TikTok or it could be banned from the U.S.
Some government officials have concerns TikTok could jeopardize national security. Those vocal against TikTok fear its parent company, ByteDance, shares U.S. user data with the People's Republic of China (PRC). The company denies these allegations.
Trump has extended the deadline for ByteDance to sell the social media platform three times since January. The next deadline is Sept. 17, though Trump could extended the deadline a fourth time.
The St. Cloud Times was unable to immediately reach ByteDance.
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Corey Schmidt covers politics and courts for the St. Cloud Times. He can be reached at [email protected].
USA TODAY reporter Greta Cross contributed.
This is a developing story and may be updated as new information becomes available.
This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: TikTok accused of exploitation in Minnesota AG lawsuit
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