Florida sues TikTok for allegedly violating its social media ban for kids

The state of Florida filed a lawsuit against TikTok on Monday, alleging the company violates the state's child safety law that prohibits children under 14 from creating social media accounts. The lawsuit, reported by Reuters, claims TikTok continues to permit 13-year-olds in Florida to use its platform and is "actively deceiving" users about its age verification processes. Florida's law, enacted in July 2023, requires social media companies to ban accounts for users under 14 and implement age verification measures. The state's complaint cites TikTok's own internal documents and user data, suggesting the company is aware of underage users on its platform. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody stated that TikTok's alleged non-compliance puts children at risk of exposure to harmful content and data collection. The lawsuit seeks to compel TikTok to adhere to the law and potentially impose penalties for violations. This legal action follows similar concerns raised by other states and federal agencies regarding the data privacy and safety of minors on social media platforms.