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Utah is taking legal action against TikTok, citing concerns over the platform’s alleged negative impact on children’s mental health.

The lawsuit alleges that TikTok lures young users into prolonged app usage, misrepresents its safety measures, and provides misleading information regarding its ties with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. Utah now aligns with Arkansas and Indiana, which have similarly challenged TikTok in court.

At a news conference, Governor Spencer Cox (R-Utah) expressed his determination, stating, “We will prevail in holding social media companies accountable by any means necessary.” He further emphasized the state’s proactive stance, referencing a recent move in December when Utah banned TikTok from all government devices, attributing the decision to cybersecurity threats linked to the app’s Chinese origins. Gov. Cox had remarked, “China’s access to data collected by TikTok presents a threat to our cybersecurity.”

TikTok responded to the lawsuit in a statement highlighting its “industry-leading safeguards for young people” and mentioned features like a default 60-minute time limit for users under 18 and parental controls. The company expressed its ongoing commitment to community safety and addressing industry challenges.