Coalition of Attorneys General investigating TikTok and its effect on youth

A coalition of attorneys general have begun an investigation into the social media platform TikTok to examine its impact on young users.

The bipartisan group of state attorneys general will look into whether the design, marketing or operating standards make the platform a danger to the mental and physical wellbeing of children who use it. Legally, the aim is to determine whether TikTok has violated any consumer protection laws since its 2016 inception.

“As children and teens already grapple with issues of anxiety, social pressure, and depression, we cannot allow social media to further harm their physical health and mental well-being,” said Massachusetts AG Maura Healey in a statement.

Other state AG’s are also on the investigative panel, including attorneys general from California, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, Tennessee and Vermont.

A TIkTok spokesman said in a statement regarding the investigation, “We care deeply about building an experience that helps to protect and support the well-being of our community, and appreciate that the state attorneys general are focusing on the safety of younger users.”