TikTok agrees to pay Alabama at least $100 million in teen safety settlement
publishers 31articles 31first reported 26 Sep, 00:31 UTCdeveloping since 26 Sep · 5 editions
TikTok and parent company ByteDance have agreed to pay Alabama at least $100 million to settle claims that the video app was designed to addict children and teenagers and harmed their mental health. The agreement was announced Friday, days before the case was scheduled to go to trial, and is TikTok’s first settlement with a state over social media addiction allegations.
The settlement also requires new protections for younger users. These include a two-hour daily limit, additional parental controls, interruptions after extended periods of continuous scrolling, restrictions on overnight access, a ban on beauty filters and an option for a non-personalized content feed.
Deutsche Welle reported that the payment could rise to $300 million if 40 other states join similar agreements within a specified period. Engadget reported that TikTok could face the higher amount if it fails to implement the required changes.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall sued TikTok in 2025, alleging that its endless video feed and recommendation algorithm exposed young users to harmful content and contributed to social media addiction. TikTok said the agreement builds on its efforts to strengthen safety tools for teenagers.
At least 27 other states and Washington, D.C., have filed similar lawsuits, according to Deutsche Welle. TikTok also faces claims from individuals, school districts and municipalities concerning its effects on young users’ mental health.
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