South Dakota and 21 Other States Are Suing TikTok

For the second time in a year, South Dakota is joining with other states from around the country in a legal battle against the social media platform TikTok.

Attorney General Marty Jackley says the state hatiks joined a coalition of 22 Attorneys General to enforce a court order that requires TikTok to 'comply with an ongoing multistate consumer protection investigation and to preserve and produce relevant evidence'.

Previously, TikTok was asked to turn over information on how it generates its algorithms, feeds, videos, as well as its enforcement of of an age limit of 13 years and older for users.

In a press release, Jackley said:

'South Dakota and other states have issued requests for information related to TikTok’s business practices in the past, and the company has failed to produce the requested information. This action is part of a continuing effort to protect children and to hold TikTok accountable for its role in harming the mental health of young people.'

Last year when TikTok failed to produce the requested information, 46 states filed a lawsuit to compel TikTok to comply with its requests. The court has twice ordered TikTok to produce responsive documents and witnesses for deposition, but TikTok has failed to fully comply with these orders.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a report highlighting just how pervasive social media is in the lives of American teenagers and how significantly it’s linked to mental health.

More 75 percent of high school students are frequently online, using social media several times a day, according to data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey. And about one-in-three are engaged more than once an hour.

Students who reported frequent social media use were more likely to have significant negative experiences and emotions than those who used it less often.

The survey also found that teen girls are more likely than boys to report poor mental health and more likely to say that they frequently use social media.

Due in part to those findings, 42 state Attorneys General have demand a Surgeon General warning label for social media apps.