Georgia Joins Multistate Probe Into TikTok's Impact on Young Users

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has signed on to a nationwide investigation into TikTok, the social media platform, focusing on its possible harmful effects on children and young adults.

The multistate inquiry was announced Wednesday by a group of states led by California, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, Tennessee and Vermont. Georgia is joining that effort.

Federal regulators and lawmakers in Washington have long criticized TikTok. They point to the company's practices and to the automated systems that promote content, which they say can endanger the physical and mental health of young people. The app is estimated to have 1 billion monthly users and is especially popular among teenagers and younger children.

The new investigation follows action by another state. Last month, Texas opened its own probe into TikTok over alleged violations of children's privacy and the facilitation of human trafficking.

In a statement, Carr said: "We will always stand up to protect Georgia's children, and we will not tolerate those who put their health and well-being at risk." He added that the effects of social media on young people are a serious issue that "must be addressed with safety as the only priority." Carr said TikTok chooses to target the state's youngest residents with enhanced marketing tactics, and that he will keep working with fellow attorneys general to review all available information.

Officials said the investigation will look at whether TikTok put the public at risk by violating consumer protection laws. It will concentrate on the ways the company boosts user engagement with the app. Government officials and child-safety advocates argue that the algorithms that push videos to users can promote eating disorders, self-harm and even suicide among young viewers.

TikTok responded Wednesday, saying it cares deeply about protecting the well-being of its community and welcomes the attention of state attorneys general to the safety of younger users. "We look forward to providing information on the many safety and privacy protections we have for teens," the company said.

The company has said it works to provide age-appropriate experiences. It noted that some features, including direct messaging, are not available to younger users, and that tools such as screen-time management help young people and parents control how long children use the app and what they see. Early last year, after federal regulators ordered TikTok to disclose how its practices affect children and teenagers, the platform tightened its privacy practices for users under 18.

As the app has grown in popularity, it has faced a barrage of criticism from state officials, federal regulators, consumer advocates and lawmakers from both parties. Republicans in particular have focused on the company's ties to China. TikTok is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance.