TikTok Given to Young Users Was a Placebo Safety Tool, Says New York Lawsuit
According to a new unsealed filing in New York’s lawsuit, TikTok provided thousands of users, including teenagers and children, with a safety tool that did not work. Reuters reported these allegations on October 7, after a judge ordered the filings made public. They are part of an amended complaint that New York Attorney General Letitia James filed under seal at the end of August.
The feature in question, Algo Refresh, allows users to reset their recommendations to avoid unwanted or harmful videos. The complaint states that during tests in 2023, some users received a placebo. These users believed the tool was working, but their feeds remained unchanged.
The complaint also states the tests examined how the feature impacted time spent in the app and ad sales, claiming the reset TikTok offered wasn't lasting.
A TikTok spokesperson told Reuters that the company frequently tests new products and features. They also stated that the lawsuit presents a misleading picture of how Algo Refresh works, and that TikTok has generally denied New York’s claims in court.
The unsealed documents also detail another TikTok test, previously reported by Bloomberg in August. TikTok did not provide a safety update to approximately 10% of its US users, around 15 million people. A 16-year-old from New York in this group died by suicide in 2022 after viewing content about self-harm and suicide.
After the Bloomberg report, Senators Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal sent TikTok 13 written questions regarding that test.
Attorney General James initially sued TikTok in October 2024, along with 14 other state attorneys general. Her original complaint alleged the company misled users about the safety of its tools, including Refresh.
More than 24 states have now sued TikTok, asserting the company designed its app to create addiction in children. In September, the company agreed to pay Alabama up to $300 million to settle that state’s case, the first one set for trial.
By Ana-Maria Stanciuc, Editor-in-Chief at TNW