State attorneys general have launched a nationwide investigation into TikTok and its possible harmful effects on young users’ mental health, widening government scrutiny of the wildly popular video platform.

The investigation was announced Wednesday by a number of states led by California, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, Tennessee and Vermont.

What You Need To Know

  • State attorneys general have launched a nationwide investigation into TikTok and its possible harmful effects on young users’ mental health

  • The investigation was announced Wednesday by a number of states, including California, Montana, Massachusetts and Colorado

  • Lawmakers and regulators have criticized TikTok, saying it can endanger the physical and mental health of young users

  • At Tuesday night's State of the Union address, President Joe Biden referenced the effects of social media on children, chiding platforms for "the national experiment they're conducting on our children for profit"

U.S. lawmakers and federal regulators have criticized TikTok, citing practices and computer-driven promotion of content they say can endanger the physical and mental health of young users. The platform has an estimated 1 billion monthly users and is especially popular with teens and younger children.

At Tuesday night's State of the Union address, President Joe Biden referenced the effects of social media on children, chiding platforms for "the national experiment they're conducting on our children for profit."

Biden referenced the testimony of Facebook whistleblower Francis Haugen, a former data scientist who leaked documents and studies showing the effects on children of platforms owned by Facebook parent company Meta. One insight, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, indicated that, after using Instagram, 41% of United States girls felt like they're not attractive, 42% felt they don't have enough money, 24% felt they aren't good enough, and 6% wanted to kill themselves. One slide notes that one in five teens say Instagram makes them feel worse about themselves.

Last month, Texas opened an investigation into TikTok’s alleged violations of children’s privacy and facilitation of human trafficking.

“Our children are growing up in the age of social media — and many feel like they need to measure up to the filtered versions of reality that they see on their screens,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a news release. “We know this takes a devastating toll on children’s mental health and well-being."

Bonta said the investigation aims determine if TikTok is violating the law in promoting its platform to young people.

Government officials and child-safety advocates maintain that TikTok’s computer algorithms pushing video content to users can promote eating disorders and even self-harm and suicide to young viewers.

TikTok has said it focuses on age-appropriate experiences, noting that some features, such as direct messaging, are not available to younger users.

“We care deeply about building an experience that helps to protect and support the well-being of our community, and appreciate that the state attorneys general are focusing on the safety of younger users," the company said Wednesday. "We look forward to providing information on the many safety and privacy protections we have for teens."

Early last year, after federal regulators ordered TikTok to disclose how its practices affect children and teenagers, the platform tightened its privacy practices for users under 18.

As its popularity has swelled, TikTok has come under a barrage of criticism from state officials, federal regulators, consumer advocates and lawmakers of both parties. Republicans have especially homed in on the company’s ties to China. TikTok is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance.

“TikTok threatens the safety, mental health and well-being of our kids,” Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, the senior Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said at a hearing Tuesday.

Spectrum News' David Mendez contributed to this report.