TikTok has settled a claim in Alabama alleging that its app is addictive and has set a daily limit of two hours for teenagers
TikTok has agreed to pay up to $300 million
Alabama’s Attorney General has stated that TikTok has agreed to pay up to $300 million and to implement new measures to protect users in order to settle the lawsuit brought by the state over child safety, the jury trial for which was due to begin on Monday.
The settlement announced by Alabama will avert the first court hearing in a series of lawsuits brought by US states against the popular social media platform. The settlement comes just one month after Meta Platforms Inc. agreed to a landmark settlement involving a payment of up to $18 billion and the implementation of safety improvements to resolve disputes with almost all US states.
“This is a great day for parents in Alabama,” said Attorney General Steve Marshall in a statement. “Tonight, they will be able to sleep more soundly, knowing that concrete protective measures are in place to safeguard their children from the dangers of social media addiction.”
Alabama will receive $116 million within 45 days, with the possibility of further payments as other states adopt the same terms of the agreement, Katherine Robertson, the state’s chief legal adviser, explained in an interview. Under the terms of the agreement. “We knew what we wanted and were fully prepared to go to court,” said Robertson. “They came to the negotiating table at the last minute with what we had asked for.”
TikTok has also agreed to a daily limit of two hours for teenage users, breaks after prolonged scrolling, the inability to access the app during school hours, and night-time restrictions. Some of these changes must be implemented within a week, Robertson said.
