TikTok has agreed to pay the state of Alabama a minimum of $100 million to settle claims that its short‑form video platform includes features that encourage addictive use among minors and that the company misled the public about safety.
The settlement imposes several safeguards for underage users, including a daily two‑hour usage limit, parental controls, mandatory pauses after 15 minutes of continuous use, overnight access restrictions from midnight to 6 a.m., enhanced age verification, a ban on cosmetic filters for teenagers, and a default non‑personalized content feed.
Alabama may receive up to $300 million in total if specific conditions outlined in the agreement are met, with the initial payment due within 45 days of the settlement.
The deal resolves a case that was scheduled for trial and represents the first state‑level settlement of its kind, applying exclusively to users in Alabama.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said the agreement provides parents with concrete tools to control their children’s time on the app. TikTok stated that the settlement aligns with its ongoing commitment to improve safety tools for teen users.
Earlier in August, TikTok reached a separate $400 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice concerning child privacy issues.
