Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed suit against TikTok on Monday in St. Lucie County state court, accusing the ByteDance-owned platform of breaching the state's child protection regulations. The Republican official contends that TikTok knowingly circumvents a law preventing social media companies from enabling account creation by children aged 13 and younger, while also downplaying the prevalence of violent and sexual material accessible to minors.
Uthmeier stated in a statement that "TikTok knowingly deceives parents and allows children to be exposed to harmful and inappropriate content in direct violation of Florida law." He emphasised the state's stance by adding that it maintains "zero tolerance for companies that prioritize profit over children's safety." The lawsuit requests that a court compel TikTok to modify its operations to meet legal requirements and award damages to the state.
TikTok responded through a company representative, noting that it has been working collaboratively with state authorities and has begun suspending accounts held by Florida users under 14. The platform said it continues implementing modifications to align with state requirements. The company expressed its readiness to "defend our strong record on minor safety" and indicated it is evaluating the complaint.
The enforcement action represents another chapter in a broader campaign by Florida against social media platforms. In 2025, the state similarly sued Snap, owner of Snapchat, arguing the company illegally deploys addictive features targeting children and permits accounts for users aged 13 and under. The case against Snap proceeds despite the company's argument that the law restricts minors' constitutional free speech protections.
TikTok faces mounting legal pressure across the nation, with more than 25 state attorneys general pursuing claims that the platform is engineered to be habit-forming for juveniles, contributing to mental health difficulties. Beyond regulatory action, the company contends with substantial private litigation from individuals and school districts. A Los Angeles jury recently determined Meta and Google negligent in a case brought by a young woman alleging depression and anxiety from platform addiction; TikTok settled before trial. The company previously agreed to pay Kentucky's school district $8 million to resolve a separate claim.
