The state of Utah has filed a case against TikTok’s harmful content

On Tuesday, Utah filed a lawsuit against TikTok, alleging that the company was using an algorithm to get children hooked to content that was harmful and distressing.

On Tuesday, Utah sued TikTok, claiming that the business knowingly uses technology to keep children interested in inappropriate content. TikTok is accused of using technology to keep kids interested in the app despite the documented negative effects of social media use on mental health, according to a lawsuit that was filed in a state court in Salt Lake City. The app, which is situated in Culver City, California, has been accused by Utah of employing algorithms to target children with occasionally violent and upsetting content through its "recommendation engine".

TikTok has gone on to dispute Utah's claims. TikTok is safe and secure for teenagers, according to the company’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, who testified before Congress in March despite attempts by lawmakers to outlaw it. It attracted 150 million users at the time, which was nearly half the country's population. In the previous year, it earned close to $10 billion in advertising revenue, according to Utah's lawsuit. State Attorney General Sean Reyes compared TikTok to a slot machine that captures children's attention and won't let them go at a news conference on Tuesday.

Utah also claims that TikTok does not adequately address the detrimental effects of teen social media use on their mental health, does not remove all child abuse-related sexual content or clips that discuss self-harm and eating disorders, and does not verify the ages of its users.