Legal War Against Social Media Platforms in the USA: TikTok Will Pay 100 Million Dollars
Quick Look
- A $100 million settlement was reached between the state of Alabama and TikTok in the legal battle against social media platforms for allegedly harming the mental health of children in the USA.
- TikTok will make the payment within 45 days and will limit children's use of the platform to 2 hours per day, restrict access at night and during school hours, and increase parental controls.
- Meta previously reached a similar settlement of $17 billion.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
A lawsuit was filed against Meta in the USA in 2023, alleging that children and young people were harmed by social media platforms. This case accused the platforms of using addictive algorithms to hook young users to the screen.
Historic decisions are coming one after another in the legal war launched in the USA against global social media cartels that disregard the mental health of children and young people and use addictive algorithms to keep them hooked on the screen. Last month, after Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, accepted the giant invoice of 17 billion dollars and introduced automatic restrictions on people under the age of 18, this time China-based TikTok took a step back.
THEY WILL PAY 100 MILLION DOLLARS
According to the BBC, within the scope of the settlement reached between TikTok and the state of Alabama, the company will pay 100 million dollars to the plaintiff and take a series of measures against children's use of the platform.
Accordingly, while children in Alabama will be limited to 2 hours per day for using TikTok, children's access to the application will also be restricted at night and during school hours.
The company will also allow parents to more comprehensively monitor their children's use of the platform.
While TikTok must make the $100 million payment within 45 days, it is expected to make an additional payment of up to $300 million to the state of Alabama if the settlement conditions are not met.
META ALSO REACHED A COMPROMISE IN A SIMILAR WAY
Meta took a step back and reached a settlement of 17 billion dollars in the giant lawsuit filed in 2023, alleging that children and young people were harmed by social media platforms in the USA. The technology giant, which owns Facebook and Instagram, has agreed to make many security measures that have been optional for young users until now the default setting.
Here are the changes Meta is expected to make within itself in the coming days:
The use of Instagram and Facebook by those under the age of 18 will be limited to two hours a day. Only the verified parent will be able to remove this limit.
The biggest change from the compromise is that Meta will have to automatically put in place many security restrictions on young user accounts.
Accounts of users under the age of 18 will be automatically blocked between 24.00 and 06.00. The parent can remove this obstacle if he/she wishes.
WHAT IS Türkiye WAITING FOR?
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
TikTok will complete the payment of $100 million within 45 days.
Very likely · Within days
TikTok use by children in Alabama will be limited to 2 hours per day.
Very likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- When will TikTok be paid?
- Will other states besides Alabama make similar compromises?
- How will we measure whether TikTok's new restrictions will be enforced enough to be effective?
