A recent lawsuit filed by Utah's attorney general has accused popular social media app TikTok of facilitating a virtual strip club environment for children. The lawsuit alleges that TikTok's live stream feature, TikTok Live, enables the sexual exploitation of minors and connects innocent victims to predators in real time.
The lawsuit specifically targets TikTok Live, where users can host live videos, interact with viewers through comments, and receive monetary gifts represented by colorful emojis. While live streamers often offer shout-outs or incentives for gifts, the lawsuit argues that this setup can lead to perverse incentives for children to engage in illicit acts for money.
According to the lawsuit, adults can encourage children to perform inappropriate acts on camera in exchange for monetary gifts, which are designed as cute, colorful emojis that appeal to children. The lack of sufficient age verification and enforcement measures on TikTok allegedly exacerbates the risk of exploitation.
In response to the allegations, TikTok has defended its platform, stating that it has industry-leading policies and safety measures in place to protect teens. The company claims that creators must be at least 18 years old to use the live stream feature and that accounts not meeting age requirements are promptly revoked access to certain features.
Despite TikTok's assertions, the lawsuit contends that the platform's age verification and enforcement mechanisms are inadequate to prevent minors from accessing the live stream feature. The legal battle raises concerns about the potential risks posed to children on social media platforms and calls for stricter safeguards to protect young users from exploitation.
