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Iowa has sued TikTok, alleging that the platform exposes young users to inappropriate and harmful content. Additionally, the state claims that TikTok misrepresents the severity of such material through deceptive age ratings. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is leading the lawsuit. He says that TikTok is making it hard for parents to monitor what their children are seeing on the app. It comes days after TikTok became the first app to rack up $10 billion in spending.
The state of Iowa sued TikTok for inappropriate content
The problem here is that TikTok says it’s suitable for kids 12 and older. But Iowa is saying that the content on the app is inappropriate for that age group. The App Store’s rules for a “12+” rating allow for a bit of sexual content, profanity, and other things, but Iowa thinks TikTok goes beyond that and should have a stricter “17+” rating.
“TikTok has kept parents in the dark,” said Attorney General Bird, a Republican. “It’s time we shine a light on TikTok for exposing young children to graphic materials such as sexual content, self-harm, illegal drug use, and worse.”
The lawsuit also points out that TikTok’s ratings as “T” for “Teen” on other app stores are not accurate either. This legal action is saying TikTok is tricking people about what’s on their app, and Iowa wants them to pay a fine and stop being misleading.
TikTok’s response to the accusation
TikTok is saying that they have strong safety measures in place for young users. They mentioned things like parental controls and time limits for users under 18. TikTok is assuring everyone that they are committed to dealing with the challenges faced by the whole industry and making sure their community stays safe.
This lawsuit is not the only one against TikTok. Some other US states, like Arkansas and Utah, are also taking legal action. It’s part of a global effort by regulators to protect kids from harmful stuff online. While some cases are still ongoing, a judge in Indiana said no to a lawsuit against TikTok in November. Montana also faced a setback when a judge blocked their attempt to ban TikTok, so they are appealing that decision.