TikTok Settles Alabama Lawsuit Over Youth Safety Concerns for at Least $100 Million
September 25, 2026 / 10:09 PM EDT / CBS/AP
TL;DR
- TikTok will pay Alabama at least $100 million as part of a settlement agreement.
- The social media company will implement new safety features for teen users in Alabama.
- Alabama had sued TikTok in 2025, alleging negative effects on the mental well-being of youths due to the platform's 'addictive properties'.
- Changes for teens include options for non-personalized content feeds, a ban on cosmetic procedure filters, a two-hour daily time limit, and restricted nighttime use.
- Young users will also be prompted with 'productive pause' reminders after periods of continuous use.
- TikTok will pay $100 million in restitution and remediation, potentially funding youth mental health services.
- The settlement includes more robust parental controls, stronger age verification, and better content moderation protocols.
- Teen accounts will be set to private by default.
- Alabama was set to be the first state to argue its claims against TikTok in front of a jury, with the trial scheduled to begin Monday.
- TikTok has previously settled individual lawsuits and reached a $400 million settlement with the Justice Department over children's privacy laws.