Minnesota joins slew of states suing TikTok for allegedly preying on young people with addictive algorithms
Minnesota has become the latest state to sue TikTok, accusing the social media platform of using addictive algorithms that target young users and harm their mental health.
At a press conference Tuesday, Attorney General Keith Ellison said the lawsuit is not about free speech, but rather about “deception, manipulation, and misrepresentation.”
“This is about a company knowing the dangers of its product and doing nothing to protect users or warn them of the risks,” Ellison said.
Filed in state court, the lawsuit alleges TikTok is violating Minnesota’s laws on deceptive trade practices and consumer fraud. It adds to a growing list of similar legal actions—around 24 states in total—sparked by a bipartisan investigation launched in 2022 into TikTok’s effects on youth mental health.
Ellison said Minnesota conducted its own investigation before moving forward. At the press conference, Roseville middle school health teacher Sean Padden supported the case, saying he’s seen a direct link between TikTok use and a rise in student anxiety, depression, anger, and attention issues.
The legal action comes as broader concerns continue over TikTok’s Chinese ownership. Former President Donald Trump, who once pushed to ban the app, is now attempting to bring it under U.S. ownership, even as he has gained over 15 million followers on the platform.
Regardless of ownership, Ellison said, TikTok must comply with state law. The company pushed back against the lawsuit.
“These claims are misleading and ignore the many safety tools we’ve put in place,” TikTok spokesperson Nathaniel Brown said, citing over 50 features aimed at protecting teen users, including screen time limits, content filters, and parental controls through its Family Pairing feature.
Minnesota is seeking a court declaration that TikTok’s practices are deceptive and harmful, a permanent halt to those practices, and financial penalties—up to $25,000 for each instance in which a Minnesota child used the app. While Ellison didn’t give a total figure, he said “hundreds of thousands” of children in the state use TikTok.
“We’re not trying to shut them down,” Ellison said. “But they must act responsibly. These platforms have legitimate uses—but they must be safe.”
Minnesota is also part of broader national legal efforts against social media companies. It’s among the states suing Meta, the parent of Instagram and Facebook, for allegedly designing addictive features. Other platforms like Snapchat and Roblox are also facing similar lawsuits over youth harm.
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