TikTok has agreed to a new set of operating rules for teen users in Alabama, as part of a $100 million legal settlement to avoid a trial over teen harms caused by the app.
As reported by Quartz, the trial, which was scheduled to begin this week, saw TikTok accused of designing addictive app features, including its engagement-optimizing algorithm that keeps users glued to the TikTok feed.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall argued that TikTok's design made it more habit-forming than other social media apps, while its algorithm steered minors toward violent and self-harm-related content in ways that can worsen teen mental health.
The trial was originally expected to run for two to three weeks, and include expert testimony to prove the case. But as reported by The Guardian, just before the weekend, TikTok agreed to settle the case, which will also see the platform implement a range of new elements to align with the Alabama attorney general’s requests.
Among those measures, TikTok will:
- Implement a two-hour daily time limit for teens
- Restrict app access for teen users between midnight and 6 a.m.
- Suspend app notifications during school hours
The measures are very similar to the provisions that Meta agreed to implement as part of its recent $18 billion settlement deal in California, which Meta had also asked both YouTube and TikTok to align with, as part of a consolidated industry approach to teen safety,
YouTube has ruled out implementing these measures, preferring to stick with its own plan for teen protections. But TikTok’sagreement in the Alabama case could suggest that it may be leaning toward shifting into line with Meta, which could eventually also see these same usage restrictions implemented across the U.S.
The actual provisions were adapted from an earlier court case in New Mexico, in which the New Mexico District Court implemented a range of restrictions on teen usage for social media apps in the state.
That has since become the template for future legal rulings on the same, and again, it does seem like the same rules could be implemented across all American states, which would have major implications for how and which social media apps gain traction with young audiences.
Both TikTok and Meta are facing similar lawsuits in at least 27 other U.S. states.
