ByteDance Declines Comment on Allegations Against Senior Officials

Florida alleges TikTok violates state law restricting minors’ access to social media platforms

According to the Florida Department of Legal Affairs, TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has failed to comply with a state law designed to limit minors’ use of social media. The claim, first reported by the Florida Phoenix, states that the platform has not implemented required age-verification measures or restrictions on underage users, despite a legal mandate effective since January 1, 2024.

The state’s accusation comes amid a broader crackdown on social media companies over concerns about youth exposure to harmful content. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Parental Rights in Education Act (HB 1467) in 2023, which included provisions banning children under 14 from using social media without parental consent. The law also required platforms to verify users’ ages and restrict access for those under 16 without explicit parental approval.

"If there’s evidence that senior officials designed this to circumvent the law, we will pursue every legal avenue available," a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Legal Affairs told the Phoenix. ByteDance has not responded to requests for comment.

The state’s legal action follows similar enforcement efforts in other U.S. jurisdictions. In March 2024, Texas sued Meta over allegations its platforms violated a state law requiring age verification for minors. Meanwhile, Utah passed a law in 2023 mandating social media companies to implement age-gating tools, though compliance has been inconsistent.

Why Florida’s move matters
Florida’s case stands out because it directly targets TikTok, the most downloaded app globally and a platform with over 150 million monthly U.S. users, many of them underage. A 2023 Pew Research Center study found that 35% of teens aged 13–17 reported using TikTok daily, with some platforms failing to enforce age restrictions.

The state’s legal team has cited internal TikTok documents, obtained through public records requests, that allegedly show the company’s age-verification systems were not fully operational as of May 2024. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has previously criticized ByteDance for what she called "willful non-compliance" with state regulations.

What happens next?
If the state’s allegations are proven in court, TikTok could face fines of up to $5,000 per violation per day, according to Florida law. The case also raises questions about whether ByteDance will appeal or seek a settlement, as it has done in other legal disputes, including a 2023 agreement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission over data privacy concerns.

For now, the Florida Department of Legal Affairs has not filed a formal lawsuit but has indicated it is gathering additional evidence. ByteDance has not publicly addressed the claims, though the company has previously stated it supports age verification and has implemented such measures in other regions, including the European Union under the Digital Services Act.

How other states are responding
Several states have taken steps to enforce social media regulations for minors:

• Utah: Passed a law in 2023 requiring age verification, with penalties for non-compliance.
• Texas: Sued Meta in 2024 over allegations its platforms allowed minors to bypass age restrictions.
• California: Introduced a bill in 2023 to ban social media for children under 16, though it has not yet been enacted.

Florida’s case could set a precedent for how other states approach enforcement, particularly if courts rule in favor of stricter compliance requirements.

For parents and guardians seeking information on social media safety, the Florida Department of Legal Affairs and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) offer resources on monitoring and restricting minors’ online activity. NCMEC’s helpline, 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678), provides guidance on reporting concerns.