TikTok has reached a $100 million settlement with the US state of Alabama with agreeing to implement strict screen time limits and improved age-verification controls to protect teenage users.
The landmark agreement, settled just days before a scheduled trial, marks TikTok’s first state-level settlement regarding allegations that its platform harms youth mental health. Under the terms the TikTok will enforce a two-hour daily time limit, mandatory usage pauses every 15 minutes and tighter age checks for teenagers in Alabama.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall had accused TikTok and its parent company ByteDance of using addictive algorithms that pushed young users toward harmful content involving self-harm and violence. The lawsuit also alleged the app misled parents with ineffective content filters.
"This is a great day for Alabama parents" Marshall said in a statement following the announcement.
While the agreement currently applies to Alabama, TikTok’s payout could rise to $300 million if other US states sign on to similar terms. The company faces similar legal claims from over 27 states and the local school districts also parents over the mental health impact of social media algorithms on minors.
A TikTok spokesperson stated the resolution reinforces the company's commitment to enhancing safety tools for young users though industry experts note the new safeguards could set a broader precedent for child safety online.
