Authored by Kimberly Hayek via The Epoch Times,
TikTok and its creator ByteDance struck a deal Friday with Alabama that will pay the state at least $100 million and force changes in how teenagers use the app, days before what would have been the first state trial over claims the platform was built to addict minors.
TikTok is so powerful its logo alone can mesmerize children. George Chan/Getty ImagesThe money is due within 45 days. It can climb to $300 million if certain conditions are met, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall's office said. Alabama was set to select a jury on Monday.
"This is a great day for Alabama parents," Marshall said. "Tonight, they can rest easier knowing real protections are in place to shield their children from the dangers of social media addiction. TikTok has agreed to give parents real control over what their kids see and how much time they spend on the app."
The complaint had accused TikTok of designing addictive features, exposing young users to serious mental harms, and misleading the public about safety.
TikTok did not admit those claims in the papers released Friday.
The company did not immediately return a request for comment.
The deal requires teen accounts in Alabama to have a two-hour daily cap, which parents can further shorten. After 15, 60, and 90 minutes of continuous use, the app must interrupt the session, a feature the office called "productive pauses," in
