Florida sues TikTok for allegedly violating its social media ban for kids
Florida has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, accusing the company of failing to comply with a state law that bans children under 14 from creating social media accounts.
The state of Florida is suing TikTok over claims that the company is not adhering to the state’s child safety law (HB3), which prohibits children under the age of 14 from creating social media accounts and requires parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds. The lawsuit, filed on Monday, alleges that TikTok still allows 13-year-olds in Florida to use the platform and is “actively deceiving” parents about the risks.
TikTok is also accused of failing to require parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds before signing up, in violation of the law. HB3 initially took effect on January 1, 2025, but was blocked by a federal judge amid a legal challenge. An appeals court later reversed that ruling, allowing the law to take effect. Florida filed a similar lawsuit against Snap when HB3 first came into effect.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier also claims that TikTok violates consumer protection laws by “lying” to parents about the content available on the app. The lawsuit states that while videos featuring alcohol, tobacco, and drugs are readily accessible on TikTok, the company tells consumers in the App Store that such references are “infrequent/mild.” It also alleges that TikTok designs its app to be “addictive” to children and teens.
TikTok US spokesperson Jamie Favazza said the company has been engaging constructively with Florida’s attorney general and has notified users under 14 in Florida that their accounts will be suspended. TikTok, along with Meta and YouTube, is also facing dozens of other lawsuits alleging failure to protect children.
