Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed a landmark lawsuit against TikTok, alleging that the platform preys on young people with “addictive algorithms” that encourage compulsive consumption of short-form videos. The case accuses the app of violating Minnesota’s consumer protection laws—including the Prevention of Consumer Fraud Act, Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and Money Transmitters Act—by engaging in deceptive, unfair, and unconscionable practices .

Ellison emphasized:

“This isn’t about free speech. I’m sure they’re gonna holler that…it’s about deception, manipulation, misrepresentation. This is about a company knowing the dangers…and taking no steps to mitigate those harms or inform users of the risks.”

At a press event, he labeled TikTok’s design “digital nicotine,” likening the platform’s engagement strategies—such as infinite scroll, push notifications, and virtual filters—to addictive substances crafted to hook users 

Supporting the suit, middle-school health teacher Sean Padden cited growing mental health concerns among students—namely anxiety, depression, reduced attention spans, and low self-esteem—that he correlates with increased TikTok use 

This lawsuit brings the number of U.S. states taking legal action against TikTok to approximately 24, following a wave of prior cases founded on similar concerns of youth harm . Many originate from a bipartisan 2022 probe by 14 states into TikTok’s impact on minors’ mental well‑being 

TikTok has responded, characterizing the claims as misleading and inaccurate. The company highlighted its implementation of over 50 teen safety features and 20+ customizable settings via its Family Pairing tool, including screen time management, content filters, and a “time away” mode to help limit usage

 What Minnesota wants:

• A legal declaration that TikTok’s conduct is deceptive, unfair, or unconscionable under state law 
• A permanent injunction to stop those practices 
• Financial penalties of up to $25,000 per child who accessed TikTok ⁠— a figure Ellison said could be substantial, given that “hundreds of thousands” of Minnesota kids use the app 

Ellison clarified that Minnesota is not seeking to ban TikTok, but rather to force the platform to “clean up their act” and operate within the law, especially when it comes to youth protection

Summary Table