Minnesota has joined a growing wave of states suing TikTok, accusing the popular video-sharing platform of addicting young users.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced the lawsuit on Aug. 19, likening TikTok to “digital nicotine” that keeps users hooked at the expense of their health.
“Just like big tobacco designs its products to addict, TikTok is working to create TikTok addicts, and the worst part is it’s working,” Ellison said at a press conference. “TikTok is profiting, making big money, and our kids are paying a heavy price.”
TikTok is immensely popular among young Americans. A 2023 Pew Research survey found that 63 percent of teenagers aged 13–17 use the app, with 58 percent using it on a daily basis. A Harvard study showed that in 2022 alone, U.S. users under 18 generated more than $2 billion in ad revenue for TikTok, making up more than one-third of its total advertising revenue that year….