TikTok settled Alabama’s youth-safety lawsuit just before trial was due to start Monday, agreeing to pay the state at least $100 million and change teen accounts, including a two-hour daily limit, a midnight-to-6 a.m. ban and an option for a non-personalized feed.
Other terms bar cosmetic-procedure filters for teens and prompt a “productive pause” after 15, 60 and 90 minutes of continuous use. TikTok must also strengthen parental controls, age verification and content moderation; teen accounts will be private by default. The state’s $100 million restitution-and-remediation payment could rise to $300 million under conditions. Alabama could also receive up to an additional $183.8 million if enough other states reach qualifying settlements within a specified period.
Alabama’s 2025 lawsuit alleged TikTok’s “addictive properties,” including its algorithm for tailoring content to users’ interests, harmed young people’s mental well-being and that the company knew of the harm. A TikTok U.S. operating-venture spokesperson said its priority had always been fostering a safe, positive space and that the settlement builds on its teen-safety tools.
