TALLAHASSEE — Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a lawsuit against TikTok, alleging the social media platform is actively contracting with minors and deceiving parents about the dangers of its content in direct violation of Florida’s online child protections law, House Bill 3.

“TikTok’s success hinges on its ability to addict children and teenagers to the platform,” said Attorney General Uthmeier. “TikTok knowingly deceives parents and allows children to be exposed to harmful and inappropriate content in direct violation of Florida law. We have zero tolerance for companies that prioritize profit over children’s safety. TikTok should expect to be held accountable.”

The complaint specifically accuses TikTok of allowing children under 14 years old to create accounts and permitting 15- and 16-year-olds to do the same without parental consent. Both actions violate HB 3, which took effect on January 1, 2025, and bans children under 14 from social media platforms entirely while requiring parental consent for 15- and 16-year-olds.

The lawsuit also charges TikTok with violating the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. TikTok advertises itself on the app store as being appropriate for children 13 years and older and characterizes mature themes including sex content, drug content, profanity, self-harm/suicide, and eating disorders as “mild” and “infrequent” — a claim the attorney general’s office calls “blatantly false.” Those themes, the complaint alleges, appear frequently on the app and are often shown in graphic detail.

Beyond the platform’s failures to comply with HB 3, the attorney general alleges TikTok deliberately targets children as its intended users. The company’s business model is built to prey upon addictive behaviors that children and teenagers are particularly vulnerable to experiencing, the complaint states. Uthmeier further alleges TikTok has internally been aware of the dangers to children for years and has knowingly ignored them.

Rep. Chip LaMarca, who championed the child safety legislation, backed the enforcement action. “The State of Florida stands with families in protecting our children from the abuses of addictive social media apps,” LaMarca said. “Thank you to the AG for pursuing the fight against these bad actors.”

The case will be prosecuted in Florida court. TikTok has not publicly responded to the complaint.