Minnesota Just Filed A Lawsuit Against TikTok – What To Know

The State of Minnesota's Attorney General just filed a lawsuit against the wildly popular app and video platform TikTok.

While the platform has been in the news on a federal level over the last year over security and other concerns around the Chinese-owned company's mobile apps.

This new lawsuit, filed by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, has nothing to do with that but rather a completely different concern.

Why is Minnesota suing TikTok?

In the lawsuit filed by Ellison today (August 19), the suit claims that the social video platform violates Minnesota's laws, "preying on Minnesota's young people" by using "intentionally manipulative and deceptive practices".

WCCO TV reported on his Tuesday morning news conference about the lawsuit, where the Attorney General referred to TikTok as "digital nicotine", likening it to "big tobacco" and tactics used to addict consumers.

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He commented, "Just like big tobacco designs its products to addict them, TikTok is working to create TikTok addicts, and the worst part is it's working. TikTok is profiting, making big money and our kids are paying a heavy price."

Along with the concerns over the addictive nature of the app and how it is targeting young people, Ellison's suit also suggests that monetary transactions within the TikTok app are against Minnesota law.

What are the impacts of this TikTok addiction?

In FOX 9's report on the lawsuit, they highlight how Ellison's case against TikTok could connect to a number of negative health impacts.

The suit alleges links between heavy TikTok users and increased feelings of hopelessness, as well as increased anxiety and depression rates, and other detrimental mental health impacts as severe as suicidal ideation among young people using the app.

What is the lawsuit looking to accomplish?

Ellison said that the goal is not to shut TikTok down, but rather to hold them accountable for the business practices he alleges the company uses to hook young people and to help protect Minnesotans from the aforementioned negative mental health impacts.

The desired outcome Ellison is seeking through this lawsuit is for TikTok to change how it operates, specifically seeking "penalties and monetary relief to address harms the app has caused, and deter future illegal conduct".

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Some of the specific features Ellison highlights as problematic include push notifications, virtual filters, and the "infinite scroll" many users joke about as being a "TikTok rabbit hole" among other nicknames.

These and other features, Ellison says, "can cause users to — especially children, by the way — to compulsively and excessively use the app, such that they are mentally, physically and financially injured."