Pennsylvania Takes TikTok to Court Over Alleged Harm to Children

Pennsylvania is taking TikTok to court, accusing the social media giant of exposing children to harmful content and deliberately designing features that encourage excessive and addictive use. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday says TikTok's age restrictions and safety features are failing to protect young users. The lawsuit is part of a much larger legal battle involving TikTok, Meta, Google, Snapchat and other major technology companies. Thousands of lawsuits have been filed by families, school districts and governments alleging that social media platforms contributed to addiction and mental health harms among children. In New Mexico, social media companies recently faced a combined $942 million jury verdict, while other cases have resulted in millions of dollars in damages. The financial stakes are enormous. As states pursue new regulations and lawsuits, taxpayers could ultimately be affected through government litigation, enforcement costs and potential settlements. Illinois has also enacted new restrictions on social media features for minors, while technology industry groups warn that the law could trigger additional litigation. The question is no longer simply whether social media is safe for children. Who ultimately pays when governments, families and companies fight over the costs of social media addiction? Follow The Center Square for more reporting on state government, economics, taxes, regulation and how policy decisions affect taxpayers.