### TikTok Faces New Legal Challenges and Alarming Revelations Over Child Safety

TikTok's legal troubles took a turn for the worse on Friday when a legal disclosure incidentally revealed deep concerns among its management about the app's risks to children. The revelations surfaced from the state lawsuit filed by Kentucky, which showed internal communications previously intended to remain confidential. The Chinese-owned video-sharing giant is amidst battling a federal ban and is now facing renewed scrutiny over its impact on young users.

The state-run lawsuit highlights research carried out by TikTok, identifying children as particularly vulnerable to its algorithm-driven feeds. According to the uncovered documents, the company was aware that excessive use of the app could lead to a range of mental health issues. Despite this knowledge, TikTok executives reportedly pushed to maximize engagement among young users, while promoting safety features that lawyers allege were largely ineffective.

A 2019 internal report underscores this concern, noting, "As expected, across most engagement metrics, the younger the user, the better the performance." This assertion has fueled critics who believe that TikTok and other social media platforms are prioritizing profits over the well-being of children and teens.

The lawsuit echoes the sentiment of more than a dozen state attorneys general, who recently filed complaints against TikTok. They accuse the company of using addictive features like auto-play and push notifications to keep children engaged longer than they should. Kentucky is just one of 13 states, along with the District of Columbia, pursuing this significant legal challenge, arguing that TikTok's practices contribute to a youth mental health crisis in the United States.

The redacted documents, initially reported by NPR, were inadvertently made visible, revealing internal TikTok surveys. One executive noted the powerful draw of the app's algorithm, saying, "The reason kids watch TikTok is because the algo[rithm] is really good." However, this extended use has reportedly come at the cost of essential activities like sleep and even basic interactions.

Even when the company attempted to mitigate these concerns, the results were minimal. An internal experiment cited in the lawsuit found that implementing screen-time-use reminders only slightly reduced teen usage from 108.5 minutes to 107 minutes per day, a negligible difference according to Kentucky's lawyers.

The internal group "TikTank," tasked with studying the app's impacts, produced a report highlighting the app's optimization for prolonged usage. The findings indicate that younger users, particularly sensitive to social rewards and lacking effective self-regulation, are especially at risk.

TikTok spokesperson Alex Haurek criticized media outlets for exposing sealed information, claiming the lawsuit misrepresented the company's commitment to child safety. Despite facing lawsuits filled with redacted documents, public officials intend to push for more transparency.

Social media watchdogs, like the Tech Oversight Project, expressed concern over TikTok's internal revelations, pointing out the company's awareness of its harmful impact on children. The situation harks back to previous legal efforts against Meta, reinforcing the link between social media design and mental health harms among the youth.

On the federal front, TikTok is battling a law that could ban the app unless its Chinese parent company ByteDance sells it by January 19. The app is valued at over $100 billion, making such a sale unlikely in a short timeframe. Additionally, TikTok is embroiled in a lawsuit with the Justice Department over alleged violations of federal children's privacy laws.