Former Vice President Mike Pence expressed his support for the lawsuit initiated by state attorneys general against TikTok. He shared his statement in an October 8 post on X.
"TikTok is digital fentanyl, addictive to our kids and a threat to the privacy and security of the American people," said Pence. "Great to see state Attorney Generals from across the country taking action to protect our kids from the harmful effects of China's TikTok."
According to AP News, more than a dozen states and the District of Columbia filed lawsuits against TikTok on October 8, alleging that the video streaming app is designed to be addictive and harmful to children's mental health. The lawsuits are part of a national investigation into TikTok, launched in March 2022 by bipartisan attorneys general from several states. The report indicates that TikTok's algorithm is designed to be addictive due to its specialization in individual interests, with features like endless scrolling and push notifications contributing to this effect.
AP News also reports that TikTok poses risks for children and teenagers. Although the app restricts users under 13 from signing up for its main service and limits content for those over 18, states have noted in their filings that children can easily bypass these restrictions. Officials say teens are "frequently exploited for sexually explicit content through TikTok’s LIVE streaming feature." Nearly all teens aged 13-17 reportedly use TikTok, and high school students who frequently engage with social media are more likely to experience "persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness," according to a survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Pew Research Center notes that 62% of American adults under 30 use TikTok, with a majority of U.S. teens also using the platform. Support for a U.S. ban on TikTok has decreased, with only 38% of Americans supporting such a measure in fall 2023 compared to 50% in March 2023. However, a majority (59%) still view TikTok as a threat to U.S. national security.
CNN reports that President Joe Biden signed legislation in April that could lead to a ban on TikTok unless its parent company ByteDance sells the platform within 270 days, setting the deadline for January 19, 2025.
Pence served as the 48th vice president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. According to his website, he was previously Governor of Indiana and served six terms in Congress representing East-Central Indiana before practicing law after earning his degree from Indiana University School of Law.
