January 19,2026
RED FM News Desk
Six families in the U.S. are suing TikTok, alleging that the platform’s algorithm is defective, addictive, and exposes minors to disturbing content.
On Friday, a Delaware judge heard a motion to dismiss the civil case, which involves five British families and one Delaware family.
The lawsuit focuses on children aged 11 to 17 who reportedly participated in a dangerous “choking challenge” after viewing videos on TikTok, resulting in their deaths in recent years. The families hope the case will hold the company accountable.
Matthew Bergman, attorney for the families ,while talking to CNN said that TikTok’s For You page floods young users with dangerous content.
TikTok’s lawyers argued the case should be dismissed under the First Amendment and the Communications Decency Act, which shields internet companies from liability for third-party content. Critics say the law is outdated. TikTok also suggested the case should be litigated in the U.K. rather than the U.S.
The families say they still don’t know exactly what content their children were exposed to, claiming TikTok has not provided that information. They hope that if the case proceeds, they can access it through discovery.
TikTok expressed its condolences to the families, saying it strictly prohibits content that encourages dangerous behavior. The company noted that it uses advanced detection systems and dedicated enforcement teams to identify and remove harmful content, claiming that 99 percent of rule-breaking material is removed before it is reported.
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