Florida sues TikTok over child social media ban violations

Legal action targets platform

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Monday that the state has sued TikTok, accusing the platform of violating a 2025 law restricting social media access for minors by allowing children under 14 to create accounts and deceiving parents about the app's dangers. The legal action alleges that the Chinese-owned company actively targeted minors while misleading families about the nature of its content.

Speaking at a news conference in Tallahassee, Uthmeier stated that the platform's business model depends on youth engagement. "TikTok's success hinges on its ability to addict children and teenagers to the platform," he said. The lawsuit claims the company knowingly exposes minors to harmful material while assuring parents of its safety.

Allegations of deception

The lawsuit contends that TikTok permitted users under 14 years old to register despite the statewide prohibition, and allowed 15- and 16-year-olds to open accounts without obtaining parental consent as required by Florida statute. The state also accuses the company of violating the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act by falsely assuring parents that the platform was appropriate for minors.

"TikTok knowingly deceives parents and allows children to be exposed to harmful and inappropriate content in direct violation of Florida law," Uthmeier said in a statement issued by his office. "We have zero tolerance for companies that prioritize profit over children's safety. TikTok should expect to be held accountable."

State restrictions on minors

Florida enacted the restrictions in 2025 as part of broader efforts to limit youth access to social media, mandating that platforms verify age and obtain parental authorization for teenage users. The law bars children under 14 from maintaining accounts on any social media service and requires explicit permission from guardians for 15- and 16-year-old account holders.

The legal action represents the latest escalation in US states' attempts to regulate TikTok's operations amid ongoing federal scrutiny of the platform's data practices and its parent company ByteDance's ties to China. Similar legislative efforts have emerged in multiple jurisdictions as lawmakers scrutinize the mental health impacts of algorithmic content recommendation systems.