TikTok has agreed to pay the state of Alabama a minimum of $100 million as part of a settlement addressing allegations that the short-form video platform deceived users regarding safety measures and was engineered to foster addiction among children. The agreement arrives just ahead of a scheduled trial start date on Monday.
According to the Alabama Attorney General’s office, the total financial obligation could reach $300 million contingent upon the fulfillment of specific conditions outlined in the deal. Beyond the monetary penalty, TikTok committed to implementing stricter usage guidelines for minors. These measures include a two-hour daily time limit for underage accounts, enhanced parental control features, restrictions on overnight app usage, and limitations on the use of cosmetic filters.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall highlighted the protective nature of the deal in a public statement. He noted that parents in the state can now “rest easier knowing real protections are in place to shield their children from the dangers of social media addiction,” emphasizing the tangible safeguards introduced by the settlement.
In response, a spokesperson for TikTok stated that the resolution aligns with the company’s ongoing dedication to improving its safety infrastructure. The platform described the settlement as reinforcing its core objective to “continually enhance our robust safety tools to protect teens.”
This development follows a significant legal resolution earlier in the year. In August, TikTok finalized a $400 million settlement with the Department of Justice to address accusations that the platform had violated federal child privacy laws.
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