Overview

• The complaint was filed Aug. 19 in Hennepin County state court, alleging violations of Minnesota deceptive trade practices and consumer fraud laws.
• The suit says TikTok’s algorithms drive compulsive use, links excessive use to depression and anxiety, and alleges TikTok LIVE with virtual currencies has enabled sexual and financial exploitation of teens.
• Minnesota seeks a declaration of unlawful conduct, a permanent injunction requiring operational changes, monetary relief, and civil penalties of up to $25,000 for each instance a Minnesota child accessed TikTok.
• Ellison’s filing cites data indicating 95% of U.S. teens with smartphones use TikTok, checking it about 17 times daily and spending roughly two hours per day on the app.
• TikTok rejects the allegations, highlighting teen safety settings, 50-plus protections, and a Family Pairing tool for parental controls; federal pressure on ByteDance’s ownership continues as enforcement of divestiture requirements has been delayed.