Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a lawsuit against TikTok in state court in St. Lucie County on Monday, alleging the video-sharing platform breaches a state statute prohibiting social media companies from enabling children under 14 to establish accounts. The Republican official contends that TikTok has knowingly allowed underage users onto its service while downplaying the prevalence of violent and sexual material that young people encounter.
"TikTok knowingly deceives parents and allows children to be exposed to harmful and inappropriate content in direct violation of Florida law," Uthmeier stated. "We have zero tolerance for companies that prioritize profit over children's safety." The action requests a court-ordered remedy to force ByteDance-owned TikTok into legal compliance, along with monetary penalties as outlined in the complaint.
A TikTok representative responded by saying the company has been working with the state's top legal officer and has started suspending accounts belonging to Florida users aged under 14. The platform continues rolling out updates designed to align with the state's requirements, the spokesperson noted. "We are evaluating the state's complaint and are prepared to defend our strong record on minor safety," the statement added.
The Florida action is part of a broader legal assault on the social media sector. More than 25 state attorneys general nationwide have brought separate cases against TikTok, often citing its addictive design as contributing to a youth mental health emergency. Thousands of additional lawsuits from individuals and school districts have been brought against TikTok, Meta Platforms, and other companies over their effects on young people. These defendants have consistently denied wrongdoing and highlight their safety initiatives.
Florida's case relies on H.B. 3, legislation enacted in January 2025 that requires platforms to prohibit accounts for those under 14 and mandates parental authorisation for users under 16. A federal judge subsequently blocked the law as unconstitutional, though a temporary hold on that ruling currently permits Florida to enforce it while appealing. The state previously sued Snapchat's parent Snap on comparable grounds, describing the company's conduct as "particularly egregious" for marketing the app to 13-year-olds despite its capacity to expose users to pornography and drug sales.
