What Is the TikTok Lawsuit?
The TikTok lawsuit is a group of separate legal proceedings against TikTok and its parent company ByteDance, not a single case. The proceedings cover teen mental health, children's data privacy and consumer protection.
Two federal multidistrict litigations anchor the group. MDL No. 3047 sits in the Northern District of California and handles injury claims against TikTok, Meta, Snap and YouTube. MDL No. 3144 sits in the Central District of California and handles child privacy class actions against TikTok alone.
Parallel cases include state attorney general suits and a coordinated Los Angeles state court proceeding. The U.S. Department of Justice also sued TikTok under the children's privacy law and has since settled. Each proceeding has its own docket, plaintiffs and status.
“On the basis of the papers filed and the hearing session held, we find that these actions involve common questions of fact and that centralization in the Central District of California will serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses and promote the just and efficient conduct of this litigation. Plaintiffs in all actions allege that TikTok fails to disclose that it collects and sells the personal information of minor children without the minors’ or their parents’ notice, knowledge, or consent, in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA) and Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (the COPPA rule).”
Source: U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, In re: TikTok, Inc., Minor Privacy Litigation, MDL No. 3144, Transfer Order, Document 83 (April 3, 2025)
Why Are People Filing TikTok Lawsuits?
People are filing TikTok lawsuits because the complaints allege TikTok built the app to hook minors and collected children's data without parental consent.
The injury suits say TikTok's For You feed, infinite scroll and push notifications are built to maximize time on the app. They allege TikTok did not warn families about the mental health risks.
The state complaints add a consumer-protection theory. They allege TikTok promoted tools such as a 60-minute limit and Restricted Mode as protective when the tools were ineffective.
The privacy complaints allege a weak age gate let children under 13 open regular accounts. They allege TikTok then collected those children's data without notice or consent.
What Injuries Are Included in the TikTok Lawsuit?
The injuries included in the TikTok lawsuit fall into five categories: compulsive use, depression and anxiety, eating disorders and body image harm, children's privacy violations and deceptive safety marketing.
Each category comes from a different group of plaintiffs. A claimant is not affected by every category just because TikTok is the defendant.
TikTok disputes many of the allegations. No court has ruled that TikTok caused any individual plaintiff's injuries.
Compulsive Use and Social Media Addiction
Compulsive use means repeated, hard-to-control use of an app despite wanting to cut back, a pattern researchers often call problematic use.
Plaintiffs in MDL 3047 and the Los Angeles cases allege TikTok's design pulls minors into staying on the app longer than they intend. They point to a For You feed that the complaints say is tuned to bring users back often.
Plaintiffs also note that China's version of the app, Douyin, limits minors' time. TikTok in the United States has no equivalent cap. TikTok has added default screen time limits for teens in recent years.
Depression and Anxiety
Depression is a mood condition marked by lasting sadness or loss of interest, and anxiety is persistent worry that interferes with daily life.
Individual plaintiffs allege heavy TikTok use contributed to depression and anxiety that needed treatment, and some allege self-harm. Plaintiffs' firms cite studies linking more time on social media with higher rates of depression in teens.
Researchers have not settled how much of one person's condition a single app causes. Each claim therefore depends on that person's own records.
Eating Disorders and Body Image Harm
An eating disorder is a serious condition involving unhealthy patterns around food and body weight. Body image harm is lasting dissatisfaction with one's appearance.
Plaintiffs allege TikTok's beauty filters push young users toward unrealistic self-images. The New York attorney general's complaint alleges the filters can cause body image problems and encourage eating disorders.
The District of Columbia complaint alleges the app steers teens toward weight-loss and body-image videos once they engage with that content.
Children's Privacy Violations
A children's privacy violation is a claim that a company collected a child's personal data without verifiable parental consent, which COPPA prohibits for children under 13.
Plaintiffs in MDL 3144 allege TikTok's age gate lets children under 13 create regular accounts. They allege TikTok collects and sells data from those accounts.
They also allege that even in Kids' Mode, TikTok collects more data than COPPA allows. The complaints add that TikTok handles parental requests to access or delete a child's data poorly.
The Department of Justice made similar allegations in its own 2024 suit, which has since settled.
Deceptive Safety Marketing
Deceptive marketing is a consumer-protection claim that a company made false or misleading statements about its product that buyers relied on.
State attorneys general allege TikTok told parents its safety features protected teens when those features did not work as advertised. Texas also alleges TikTok called graphic videos "infrequent" and "mild" to keep its app store age rating.
These claims belong to governments, not individual families. A state recovers penalties and safety changes, not personal damages.
Who Qualifies for the TikTok Lawsuit?
You may qualify if:
- You used TikTok as a minor and were diagnosed with or treated for a mental health condition, the profile plaintiffs' firms describe for MDL 3047
- You are a young adult whose diagnosis or treatment happened while you were still a minor, since firms describe these claims as eligible
- You or your child under 13 held a TikTok account whose data was allegedly collected without parental consent, the subject of MDL 3144
- Your claim falls within your state's statute of limitations, which varies by state and can be extended for claims involving minors
You may not qualify if:
- You want a payout from the Department of Justice or Alabama settlements, which paid governments rather than individual claimants
- You want to file a claim in the older $92 million privacy settlement, whose claim deadline passed on March 1, 2022
- Your harm began only in adulthood, since one firm reports the injury MDL is not accepting claims for people harmed as adults
- Your complaint concerns a TikTok creator or a separate dispute, such as the TikTok psychic defamation case
MDL 3047 consolidates individual injury cases for shared pretrial work. It is not a class action, so each case is judged on its own facts. MDL 3144 centralizes privacy class actions, and no class certification has been reported. Only a qualified attorney reviewing your records and your state's deadline can confirm whether you have a claim.
What Is the Current Status of the TikTok Class Action Lawsuit?
The current status of the TikTok class action lawsuit depends on which proceeding is meant. Several separate cases against TikTok are active, settled or both.
Only MDL 3144 is a proposed class action. The injury cases are individual lawsuits grouped for shared pretrial work, and the state and federal government cases are brought by governments.
The tables below list the court, judge and latest verified count for each proceeding.
In re: Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 3047
MDL 3047 gathers personal injury and school district suits that blame social media design for teen harm. TikTok, Meta, Snap and YouTube are the defendants, so the pending count covers all four companies, not TikTok alone.
| Court | U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (federal MDL) |
| MDL Number | 3047 |
| Judge | Hon. Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, Chief Judge |
| MDL Created | October 6, 2022 |
| Pending Cases | 3,824 pending, 4,009 total actions as of October 1, 2026 |
| Defendants | TikTok (ByteDance), Meta, Snap, YouTube (Google) |
| Current Stage | Pretrial; the first school district bellwether case, Breathitt County, settled in May 2026 |
MDL 3047 is not a class action. Each plaintiff keeps an individual case, and a ruling in one bellwether does not bind the others.
Social Media Cases, JCCP No. 5255 (Los Angeles Superior Court)
The Los Angeles proceeding coordinates more than 3,000 state court injury cases before Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl. TikTok settled the first bellwether case, brought by a plaintiff identified as K.G.M., on the day jury selection began.
| Court | Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles |
| Case Number | JCCP No. 5255 |
| Judge | Hon. Carolyn B. Kuhl |
| Size | More than 3,000 coordinated cases |
| TikTok Resolutions | K.G.M. (January 27, 2026), R.K.C. (July 2026 trial canceled), and three more plaintiffs in principle (August 2026) |
| First Verdict | Meta and YouTube found liable on March 25, 2026; $6 million total damages; TikTok not a defendant at trial |
| Current Stage | Further bellwether trials were set for October 2026, and settlements can cancel them |
The reported TikTok settlement terms were confidential. TikTok remains a defendant in other Los Angeles injury cases.
In re: TikTok, Inc., Minor Privacy Litigation, MDL No. 3144
MDL 3144 centralizes data privacy class actions that accuse TikTok of collecting children's personal information without parental consent. The Panel declined to fold these cases into MDL 3047 because they contain no addiction-related allegations.
| Court | U.S. District Court, Central District of California (federal MDL) |
| MDL Number | 3144 (Case No. 2:25-ml-03144) |
| Judge | Hon. George H. Wu |
| MDL Created | April 3, 2025 |
| Pending Cases | 12 pending, 22 total actions as of October 1, 2026 |
| Defendants | ByteDance Ltd., ByteDance Inc., TikTok Ltd., TikTok Inc., TikTok Pte. Ltd. and TikTok U.S. Data Security Inc. |
| Class Status | Proposed class action; no class certification reported |
| Current Stage | Discovery, after the court denied TikTok's motion to dismiss |
On September 24, 2026, Judge Wu denied TikTok's motion to dismiss the second amended consolidated complaint. The court set a scheduling conference for October 19, 2026.
State Attorney General Actions
Fourteen attorneys general, covering 13 states and the District of Columbia, sued TikTok on October 8, 2024. They allege TikTok designed the app to addict young users and misled the public about its safety. Other states filed separate suits.
| Coalition Suits | California, New York, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia |
| Other State Suits | Texas, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Utah, Hawaii and Alabama |
| Settled | Alabama (September 25, 2026), the only state settlement so far |
| Current Stage | Mixed; one state settled and the others remain pending |
Each state's case runs on its own docket under its own laws. A settlement with one state does not resolve any other state's suit.
United States Department of Justice COPPA Lawsuit
The Department of Justice sued TikTok and ByteDance on August 2, 2024 after a Federal Trade Commission referral. The suit alleged violations of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. It ended in a settlement announced on August 21, 2026.
| Court | U.S. District Court, Central District of California |
| Plaintiff | United States, represented by the Department of Justice |
| Filed | August 2, 2024 |
| Current Stage | Settled; terms appear under the settlement heading below |
How Much Is the TikTok Lawsuit Settlement Worth?
There is no TikTok lawsuit settlement open to individual claimants today. The two largest settlements, $400 million with the Department of Justice and at least $100 million with Alabama, went to governments.
Any individual payout from the injury cases would depend on settlements or verdicts that have not yet happened. Only a qualified attorney reviewing your records can estimate what a claim might be worth.
TikTok will pay the Department of Justice $300 million immediately. It will pay $100 million more after a court vacates a 2019 consent decree against its predecessor, Musical.ly. The deal resolves the children's privacy suit filed in 2024.
Alabama's settlement requires TikTok to pay at least $100 million within 45 days. Alabama could receive up to $300 million if certain conditions are met. TikTok also agreed to teen safeguards in Alabama, including a two-hour daily limit.
Public records showed TikTok agreed to pay $8 million of a combined $27 million settlement with the Breathitt County School District in Kentucky. Meta paid $9 million, Snap $8 million and YouTube about $2.01 million.
People who search for a TikTok claim form usually mean the older $92 million privacy settlement. The court gave final approval on July 28, 2022, and the claim deadline passed on March 1, 2022. Reported payments ran from $27.84 to $167.04, so no claim form is open.
Latest TikTok Lawsuit Updates
The latest TikTok lawsuit updates and news, including new filings, rulings, and case-count reports, are tracked below as they're confirmed. No settlement date has been set as of October 2026; MDL 3047 (teen social media addiction) and MDL 3144 (TikTok child privacy) remain in active pretrial litigation. Every verified development is listed in the timeline below, in order.
TikTok Lawsuit Timeline
A federal judge approves TikTok's $92 million privacy class settlement
U.S. District Judge John Z. Lee granted final approval of a $92 million class settlement of the TikTok consumer privacy suits in the Northern District of Illinois. TikTok agreed to the deal in February 2021 and denied wrongdoing.
The Judicial Panel creates MDL 3047 for social media addiction cases
The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation centralized teen social media addiction suits against TikTok, Meta, Snap and YouTube in MDL 3047. It assigned the cases to Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in the Northern District of California.
The Department of Justice sues TikTok over children's privacy
The Department of Justice sued TikTok and ByteDance in federal court in California for violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. The complaint followed a Federal Trade Commission referral announced in June 2024.
Fourteen attorneys general sue TikTok over teen safety
Attorneys general in 13 states and the District of Columbia filed separate suits against TikTok on October 8, 2024. They allege TikTok built the app to addict young users and misled the public about its safety.
The Supreme Court upholds the federal TikTok divestiture law
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in TikTok, Inc. v. Garland that the federal divest-or-ban law is constitutional. The decision resolved the ban challenge only and did not affect the injury, privacy or state cases.
The Judicial Panel creates MDL 3144 for TikTok child privacy suits
The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation centralized TikTok child privacy class actions in the Central District of California as MDL 3144. It assigned them to Judge George H. Wu and kept them out of MDL 3047.
Judge Wu trims the MDL 3144 complaint but allows amendment
Judge George H. Wu adopted his tentative ruling in MDL 3144, which granted TikTok's motion to dismiss some claims with leave to amend. Plaintiffs later filed an amended consolidated complaint.
A new TikTok U.S. joint venture takes over American operations
TikTok finalized a deal that moved its U.S. operations into a new joint venture backed by Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX. Reports put the investor group at 81 percent and ByteDance at 19 percent.
TikTok settles the first Los Angeles social media addiction case
TikTok reached an agreement to settle the K.G.M. injury case in Los Angeles Superior Court on the day jury selection began. Meta and YouTube went to trial, and TikTok remained a defendant in other injury cases.
A Los Angeles jury finds Meta and YouTube liable in the first bellwether trial
A Los Angeles Superior Court jury found Meta and YouTube liable and awarded $6 million in total damages in the K.G.M. case. TikTok had settled before trial and was not a defendant at the verdict.
The Breathitt County school district bellwether settles before trial
Meta settled the Breathitt County School District case in MDL 3047 on May 21, 2026, weeks before the planned June trial. Later records showed TikTok, Snap and YouTube also settled, for a combined $27 million.
A second Los Angeles bellwether trial is canceled after settlements
The second Los Angeles bellwether trial, R.K.C. v. Meta, was canceled in July 2026 after the plaintiff settled with TikTok, Snap and Google and dismissed the claims against Meta.
TikTok settles three more Los Angeles injury cases in principle
Plaintiffs' counsel reported on August 18, 2026 that three plaintiffs resolved their Los Angeles claims against TikTok in principle. Each plaintiff keeps claims against Meta, YouTube and Snap, and trials were set for October 2026.
TikTok agrees to a $400 million Department of Justice settlement
The Department of Justice announced on August 21, 2026 that TikTok and ByteDance will pay $400 million. The payment ends the 2024 children's privacy lawsuit. TikTok pays $300 million immediately and $100 million after the 2019 consent decree is vacated.
A Texas judge rules TikTok misled users about child safety features
Travis County District Judge Cory Liu granted Texas partial summary judgment against TikTok and ByteDance. He found TikTok misled users about its Community Guidelines and Restricted Mode, and penalties will be set at trial.
Judge Wu denies TikTok's motion to dismiss the MDL 3144 complaint
Judge George H. Wu denied TikTok's motion to dismiss the second amended consolidated complaint in MDL 3144. The parties were told to list outstanding discovery issues by September 30, 2026.
TikTok settles with Alabama just before the first state trial
TikTok and ByteDance settled Alabama's youth safety lawsuit on September 25, 2026, days before trial. TikTok agreed to pay at least $100 million and adopt teen safeguards in Alabama.
The Judicial Panel reports 3,824 pending cases in MDL 3047
The Judicial Panel's October 1, 2026 report listed 3,824 pending actions and 4,009 total actions in MDL 3047. The same report listed 12 pending actions and 22 total actions in TikTok MDL 3144.
How to File a TikTok Lawsuit
Follow these 5 steps to file a TikTok lawsuit.
- Identify which proceeding fits your situation: Mental health injury claims for a minor generally belong to MDL 3047 or the Los Angeles proceeding. Children's data collection claims belong to MDL 3144.
- Document the TikTok use: Gather account details, screen time records and device records that show how and when the minor used TikTok.
- Collect diagnosis and treatment records: Records of a diagnosis, hospitalization or treatment during childhood carry the most weight, according to firms handling these cases.
- Check your state's filing deadline: Statutes of limitations vary by state and by the claimant's age, so an attorney should review the deadline early.
- Consult a social media harm attorney: Many firms offer free consultations and file individual cases into the MDL or a state proceeding for the claimant.
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What Evidence Do I Need for a TikTok Lawsuit?
A TikTok injury claim generally needs proof of two things: the minor's TikTok use and a diagnosed condition. Account records, screen time data and device logs help show use. Medical and mental health records help show the diagnosis and its timing.
A child privacy claim in MDL 3144 centers on the child's age and account. Birth records and account creation details are the core documents.
Dates matter in both tracks. Records that show the minor was under 18 when the harm was diagnosed support the claim.
What Did TikTok Allegedly Know About Teen Harm and Child Privacy?
Plaintiffs and state attorneys general allege TikTok knew about the risks from its own internal communications and a 2019 court order. Most of these allegations have not been tried.
State investigators reviewed internal TikTok messages for more than two years. California Attorney General Rob Bonta said staff compared the algorithm to a slot machine and that an executive called teens the "golden audience."
On September 10, 2026, Texas won partial summary judgment on two claims. The judge found TikTok misled users about its Community Guidelines and Restricted Mode.
| Source | Date | What it alleges or records |
|---|---|---|
| United States v. Musical.ly consent decree | 2019 | TikTok's predecessor paid a $5.7 million fine and agreed to seek parental consent for users under 13 |
| Department of Justice complaint | 2024 | TikTok kept collecting children's data, including in Kids' Mode, after the 2019 order |
| State attorney general complaints | 2024 | TikTok knew the app was addictive while it promoted safety tools to the public |
| Order creating MDL 3047 | 2022 | Plaintiffs allege the platforms maximize screen time and defendants failed to warn the public |
TikTok has disputed many of these allegations. It says it offers default screen time limits, Family Pairing and added privacy protections for minors.
How Does the TikTok Lawsuit Compare to Other TikTok Lawsuits?
The TikTok lawsuit differs from several other well-known TikTok lawsuits in who sued, who was sued and what was claimed. The table separates the ones searchers most often confuse with it.
| Matter | Plaintiff | Claim | Same as this page? |
|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok, Inc. v. Garland (U.S. Supreme Court No. 24-656) | TikTok and ByteDance | Challenge to the federal divest-or-ban law, upheld January 17, 2025 | No |
| TikTok psychic defamation case | University of Idaho professor Rebecca Scofield | Defamation against TikTok creator Ashley Guillard, $10 million jury verdict February 27, 2026 | No, TikTok is not the defendant |
| In re TikTok, Inc., Consumer Privacy Litigation | TikTok users nationwide | Older data privacy class action in Illinois, settled in 2022 | No, closed to claims |
| Anderson v. TikTok | Tawainna Anderson | Wrongful death claim over the Blackout Challenge; Third Circuit ruled in August 2024 that Section 230 does not shield algorithm recommendations | No, separate case |
| Content moderator class action | Former TikTok moderators | 2022 suit alleging inadequate mental health support for moderators | No, employment claim |
None of these matters pays out to MDL 3047 or MDL 3144 claimants. A person should match their own situation to the right proceeding before assuming a case applies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the TikTok lawsuit about?
The TikTok lawsuit is about claims that TikTok and ByteDance designed the app to addict minors and collected children's data without parental consent. MDL 3047 covers addiction injuries, MDL 3144 covers child privacy, and state attorney general suits cover consumer protection.
Is the TikTok lawsuit a class action or an MDL?
The TikTok lawsuit is both, depending on the proceeding. MDL 3047 groups individual injury suits and is not a class action. MDL 3144 centralizes child privacy class actions, and no class certification has been reported.
Is there a TikTok lawsuit settlement I can claim money from?
No TikTok lawsuit settlement is open to individual claims as of October 15, 2026. The $92 million privacy settlement closed to claims on March 1, 2022. The $400 million and $100 million settlements went to governments.
How much has TikTok paid to settle lawsuits?
TikTok has agreed to pay $400 million to the Department of Justice and at least $100 million to Alabama. It also agreed to pay $8 million to the Breathitt County School District. It also settled the 2022 privacy class action for $92 million.
Who can join a TikTok lawsuit?
People who used TikTok as minors and were treated for a mental health condition may be able to join the injury cases. Families of children under 13 whose data was allegedly collected may fit MDL 3144. Only an attorney can confirm eligibility.
Is the TikTok psychic lawsuit the same as the TikTok lawsuit?
The TikTok psychic lawsuit is not the same as the TikTok lawsuit on this page. It is a defamation case against creator Ashley Guillard, whom a federal jury ordered to pay $10 million on February 27, 2026. TikTok the company is not the defendant.
Did the Supreme Court TikTok ruling end the TikTok lawsuit?
The Supreme Court TikTok ruling did not end the TikTok lawsuit, because it decided a different case about the federal divestiture law. The Court upheld that law on January 17, 2025. The injury, privacy and state cases continue or have settled separately.