TikTok to Pay Alabama at Least $100 Million and Add Teen Safeguards
publishers 18articles 20first reported 24 Sep, 15:00 UTCdeveloping since 24 Sep · 6 editions
TikTok has agreed to pay Alabama at least $100 million and introduce new protections for teenage users, settling a state lawsuit shortly before a trial was scheduled to begin Monday in Montgomery.
Alabama sued TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, in 2025, alleging the platform’s personalized algorithm and other features harmed young users’ mental well-being and that the companies misled consumers about child safety.
Under the agreement, teen users in Alabama will face a two-hour daily usage limit and restricted access from midnight to 6 a.m. They will receive prompts to pause after 15, 60 and 90 minutes of continuous use and will have the option of a non-personalized content feed. Teen accounts will be private by default, cosmetic-procedure or beauty filters will be barred, and TikTok will strengthen parental controls, age verification and content moderation. The Guardian reported that notifications will also be suspended during school hours.
Alabama will receive $100 million for restitution and remediation, potentially including youth mental-health services and related programs. The total payment could rise to as much as $300 million if 40 other attorneys general enter qualifying agreements with TikTok within a specified period.
TikTok said the agreement builds on its efforts to improve safety tools for teens. Alabama described it as the first state settlement in broader litigation over TikTok’s alleged effects on young users.
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