TikTok is being investigated for its influence on the mental health of young people

TikTok is being investigated by a group of state attorneys general from California, Florida, Kentucky, and other states for its possible impact on young people’s mental and physical health. According to Attorney General Maura Healey of Massachusetts, the group of AGs is investigating whether the way TikTok creates, runs, and distributes its platform has a harmful impact on the health of children, teenagers, and young adults.

The algorithm that controls what material users view on TikTok has proven to be quite efficient in keeping users engaged with the app. While the corporation has provided some insight into how it operates, detailed information is difficult to come by outside of leaks and informed conjecture. According to Healey, the probe would focus on “the tactics and practices” used by TikTok to “increase youthful user engagement, including boosting the amount of time spent on the site.”

The probe may have ramifications beyond TikTok. When it comes to building new features or addressing the future of applications, other social media firms like Meta and Snapchat have been borrowing lessons from the short-form video platform. It’s hardly unexpected that other applications are copying TikTok’s short-form video approach; according to Meta employees, kids spend more time on TikTok than they do on Instagram, and one research claims that US Android users spend more time viewing TikToks than YouTube videos. However, if the TikTok probe leads in legislation or other steps, the copying might lead to heightened scrutiny of other sites.