TikTok employees raised concerns that app could be addictive, unsealed edited video shows

The newly unsealed and edited video reveals TikTok employees and consultants expressing concerns about potentially addictive features of the popular social media app that could negatively impact users’ mental health. This video compilation, which was shared with CBS News by the North Carolina Department of Justice, is part of the evidence in a lawsuit filed in 2024 by the state’s former attorney general against TikTok, alleging that the company misled the public about the safety of the platform.

North Carolina Special Superior Court Judge Adam Conrad recently ordered the unsealing of the video and complaint, and also denied a motion by TikTok’s parent company, China-based ByteDance, to dismiss the lawsuit. North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson stated that the clips in the video clearly show that social media companies are designing their apps to hook children at the expense of their health, and TikTok fought hard to keep the video from the public eye.

In response to the allegations, a TikTok spokesperson called the video a “shameful attempt to distort an open internal conversation about making the platform safer” when TikTok was in its early stages five years ago. The spokesperson highlighted over 70 features and settings on TikTok designed to support the safety and well-being of users, including a daily screen time limit and guided meditation exercises for teen users.

The lawsuit filed by former North Carolina Attorney General Joshua Stein accuses TikTok of fostering excessive and addictive use through its design, knowing the harm it causes, and prioritizing advertising revenue over consumer well-being. This legal action is part of a larger initiative involving 14 state attorneys general who claim that TikTok harms children’s mental health, with Minnesota’s attorney general recently joining the fight with a separate lawsuit.

TikTok has strongly denied these claims, stating that they are inaccurate and misleading. The company remains committed to protecting teens and improving its product to ensure the safety of users. The released video features internal company meetings where speakers discuss harmful features of the TikTok app, including those that promote compulsive use.

Despite the controversies surrounding TikTok, the app remains popular among teens, with a significant percentage using it regularly. As TikTok faces uncertainties about its future, including a deadline set by President Trump for the app to separate from its Chinese parent company or face a ban in the U.S., the discussion around its impact on mental health continues.