TikTok settles with Alabama over youth safety concerns

TikTok has reached a settlement with the state of Alabama to avoid a trial regarding allegations that it misled parents about safety tools designed to protect minors from harmful content. As part of the agreement, the platform will pay a minimum of $100 million to the state, with the total potentially reaching $300 million if other attorneys general enter into similar pacts.

The settlement introduces several new restrictions for users aged 13 to 17. These include a default daily usage limit of two hours and a mandatory lockout between midnight and 6:00 a.m. Additionally, TikTok will suspend notifications during school hours, implement breaks after prolonged use, and prohibit the use of aesthetic filters for this age group. The platform will also provide a non-personalized content feed to these users to reduce addictive dynamics.

Alabama had previously sued the company, citing concerns over the impact of the social media platform on the mental health of young people. The agreement, announced by Attorney General Steve Marshall, was reached just days before the scheduled trial in Montgomery. The settlement does not include an admission of liability by TikTok.