Arkansas sues TikTok, ByteDance and Meta over mental health, child safety concerns

The state of Arkansas is suing TikTok and Facebook parent company Meta over claims the social media companies’ products are harmful to users. This move is the latest attempt by public officials to hold social media companies accountable over mental health and privacy concerns.

The state filed three lawsuits – two against TikTok and its parent ByteDance and one against Meta – accusing them of violating the Arkansas’ deceptive trade practice act.

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Arkansas sues TikTok over lack of protections for minors

One lawsuit accuses TikTok of not taking proper steps to protect minors using the platform from inappropriate content, including sexual content and content depicting drug and alcohol use.

The lawsuits come as TikTok is under scrutiny over privacy and data concerns, especially following TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew's testimony before Congress last week that lawmakers said failed to quell their national security concerns.

“TikTok is a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” one of the lawsuits stated. “As long as TikTok is permitted to deceive and mislead Arkansas consumers about the risks to their data, those consumers and their privacy are easy prey.”

Facebook parent Meta sued over mental health concerns

The lawsuit against Meta accuses the social media platform of manipulating Facebook to influence the amount of time younger users spend on the platform, contributing to mental health problems among young Arkansans.

Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, outlined steps it has taken to protect young social media users on its platforms Tuesday, including age-verification technology and removing content related to suicide, self-injury or eating disorders.

“These are complex issues, but we will continue working with parents, experts and regulators such as the state attorneys general to develop new tools, features and policies that meet the needs of teens and their families,” Antigone Davis, Meta’s head of safety, said in a statement.

Dig deeper:

• Lawmakers say TikTok hearing validated security concerns. But TikTokers aim criticism at Congress

• Lawmakers against TikTok are more dug in after CEO tries to defend app before Congress

• TikToker's 'full-time career' at risk due to possible US ban on Chinese-owned app

• 'Foreign technology threats': Commerce secretary could ban TikTok under bipartisan bill

• 'We need to stop this:' TikTok ban proposed amid national security concerns over China surveillance

• A US TikTok ban is gaining support in Congress. Why some say that would hurt free speech.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: TikTok, Facebook parent companies sued over child safety concerns