TikTok Faces Ban as Regulators Investigate Social Media App

• A group of attorneys general in the United States is launching an investigation into trending video social media platform, TikTok

• They aim to discover whether the social media app is designed or promoted in a manner that increases physical or mental health harm

• The regulators are also set to investigate if the company violated any consumer protection laws or put its users at risk

A group of state attorneys general in the United States has launched an investigation into TikTok, studying the potential of the app to affect young people’s physical and mental health.

The AGs want to discover if the video social media app has violated state consumer protection laws. This comes amid a greater push for more protection for children on social media.

It follows a statement by United States President, Joe Biden calling for a ban on targeted advertising to children on social media, during his recent State of the Union address on Tuesday.

In attendance at the event was former Facebook employee, Frances Haugen who had leaked documents of the company’s research that showed the effects of its products on the mental health of teenagers.

After the documents were leaked, investigations were launched into Meta’s handling of the situation and it has spurred a series of hearings with tech executives about how kids can be better protected on social media.

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In the latest investigation, the AGs will look into the dangers of young people using the app and what the company knew about the adverse effect of its app. The probe will also look into various techniques used by TikTok to increase engagement and time spent on the app.

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