Alabama alleges that addictive design features and misleading safety claims harmed young users; TikTok disputes the allegations.
TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, will face an Alabama jury beginning Monday in the first state case against the platform to reach trial over its alleged effects on young users’ mental health.
The trial is scheduled to begin September 28 in Montgomery and is expected to last two to three weeks.
Alabama alleges that TikTok designed its endless video feed and recommendation algorithm to keep children using the platform while directing some toward increasingly intense content involving violence, self-harm and other harmful subjects.
The state also accuses TikTok of misleading parents and consumers about its safeguards, age restrictions and the amount of sexual or violent material available to younger users. The allegations have not been proven in court.
TikTok has said protecting teenagers is a central priority and maintains that federal law shields online platforms from liability for content created by users. The company did not respond to Reuters’ request for additional comment about the approaching trial.
At least 27 other states and Washington, D.C., have filed related lawsuits. TikTok also faces claims from individuals, school districts and local governments, although it has settled several cases previously selected for trial.
Alabama is seeking financial penalties and other court-ordered relief. The proceedings could also disclose internal information about TikTok’s operations that has remained sealed or heavily redacted in earlier cases.
