TikTok settles Alabama teen safety suit for $100M

TikTok agreed to pay Alabama at least $100 million and implement platform changes for teen users in the state, resolving a 2025 lawsuit that accused the company of harming youth mental health through addictive algorithmic features. The settlement was finalized just before a scheduled trial in Montgomery state court.

Under the agreement, TikTok will introduce a non-personalized feed option for teens, block cosmetic procedure filters, enforce a two-hour daily time limit, and ban nighttime use from midnight to 6 a.m. The app will also prompt users to take breaks after 15, 60, and 90 minutes of continuous use and implement stricter age-verification measures.

“This is a great day for Alabama parents.”

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall sued TikTok and its Chinese parent ByteDance last year, alleging the platform's endless video stream pushed young users toward intense content about violence and self-harm. The state also claimed TikTok misled consumers by falsely stating it limited access to sexual and violent content for teens to secure favorable app store ratings.

The deal marks TikTok's first state-level settlement in widespread litigation over social media's impact on teen well-being. At least 27 other states and Washington, D.C., have filed similar lawsuits. Alabama's payout could grow to $300 million if 40 other attorneys general sign comparable agreements within a specified period.

A TikTok spokesperson said the settlement builds on the company's commitment to enhance safety tools for teens. The trial, expected to last two to three weeks, would have offered rare insight into TikTok's operations, which the company has previously sought to keep from public view.