Hawaii has filed a lawsuit against ByteDance Inc. and its affiliated TikTok entities, alleging that the company knowingly designed its social media platform to maximize user engagement through what state officials describe as “coercive design tactics.” 

The complaint asserts that these features encourage prolonged use, particularly among minors, and that TikTok misled the public about the risks associated with its platform.

Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez brought the case under the state’s Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices law, alleging that TikTok’s business model “is predicated upon compelling its users to spend as much time as possible on its platform” and that the company monitors usage “down to the minute.” The filing states that TikTok places “strict limitations on any platform changes … that could decrease stay time because every minute spent on its platform increases profitability.”

Gov. Josh Green said the legal action responds to concerns about young users. “The mental health and well-being of our ‘keiki’ must come first. TikTok’s design preys on their vulnerabilities, creating an environment where addiction and anxiety thrive,” he said in a statement.

Youth Usage at the Center of the Allegations

The lawsuit cites internal company materials indicating TikTok knew the platform was “particularly popular with younger users,” who the company acknowledged “have minimal ability to self-regulate effectively” and “do not have executive function to control their screen time.”

A “significant portion” of TikTok’s U.S. user base is under 18, with many under 13, according to the attorney general’s office. Hawaii officials argue that TikTok failed to implement adequate age-verification measures, allowing children to create accounts by self-reporting their birthdates. 

The complaint states: “Without meaningful age verification methods, minors would typically just lie about their age.”

TikTok was previously sued twice by the U.S. government for alleged violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, and the new filing asserts that challenges in age detection persisted even after a 2019 consent decree.

Design Features Cited as Drivers of Compulsive Use

Central to the complaint is the allegation that TikTok integrated features that foster “psychological dependence,” drawing comparisons to techniques used in gambling environments. Hawaii asserts that internal TikTok communications referenced “coercive design tactics” intended to increase engagement time and collect user data.

The state further claims TikTok imposed internal limits on safety-related product changes, citing documents in which employees described incentives “to grow at the expense of their users.” The complaint states the platform’s “advertising-based business model encourages optimization for time spent in the app.”

Broader Context of Regulatory Scrutiny

Hawaii’s filing aligns with a broader wave of state and federal inquiries into the impact of social media design on children. The complaint cites internal metrics showing that U.S. children average nearly two hours a day on TikTok, with some spending more than four hours. It also cites external research indicating high daily use among teens nationwide.

Officials argue that the platform’s growth and revenue – ranging from advertising to commerce through TikTok Shop – intensified corporate pressure to maintain engagement. “Every user, and every minute that user spends on TikTok’s platform, helps generate revenue for TikTok,” the complaint states.

Injunctive Relief and Additional Safeguards

Hawaii is seeking injunctive relief to halt what it alleges are harmful and deceptive practices. The suit also asks the court to require TikTok to adopt “meaningful safeguards for children” and accurately disclose risks associated with its design systems.

The attorney general’s office argues that TikTok failed to warn families adequately, stating: “TikTok fails to warn its users and the public about the risks and harms from its platform and misrepresents … the nature of its product and the risks associated with it.”

TikTok previously said it maintains “robust policies and measures” to protect young users.

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