The company says it is suspending underage accounts as the state sues over its child social media law.
TALLAHASSEE, FL — TikTok has begun suspending accounts for Florida users under 14 after state officials accused the company of violating a law that limits children’s access to social media platforms.
The move comes as Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier sues TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, in St. Lucie County Circuit Court. The lawsuit says TikTok let underage children use the app, failed to follow parental consent rules for older teens and misled families about harmful material on the platform. TikTok says it is reviewing the complaint and updating its Florida service to comply with state law.
Florida’s law, known as HB 3, bars children under 14 from holding accounts on covered social media platforms. It also requires parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds. The law took effect in 2025 but was tied up in federal court for months. State enforcement moved forward after an appeals court allowed Florida to enforce the disputed provisions while the broader legal challenge continues. Uthmeier announced the TikTok case Monday, June 15, calling it a test of whether large platforms will follow the state’s rules. “TikTok knowingly deceives parents and allows children to be exposed to harmful and inappropriate content in direct violation of Florida law,” Uthmeier said.
The complaint says TikTok’s app includes features that Florida defines as addictive, including endless scrolling, auto-play videos, live-streaming and push notifications. State lawyers allege those features keep children on the app for long periods and make the company subject to HB 3. The lawsuit also accuses TikTok of misrepresenting how often young users may see content involving sex, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, profanity, violence or self-harm. The state says TikTok’s 13-plus app rating does not match the material children can encounter. TikTok has denied wrongdoing in similar youth safety cases and said its platform is built with safety in mind.
TikTok’s response has focused on compliance. A company spokesperson said TikTok has been working with the attorney general’s office and has told Florida users under 14 that their accounts will be suspended. The company also said it is continuing to update the app in response to Florida law and is prepared to defend its record on minor safety. The lawsuit does not say how many Florida accounts are affected by the suspensions. It also does not say how TikTok is identifying every underage account or how many 14- and 15-year-olds may need parental consent to keep using the app.
The case is part of a wider fight over children, social media and state power to regulate online platforms. Florida passed HB 3 in 2024, with supporters saying the law was needed to protect children from compulsive use and harmful content. Tech industry groups, including NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association, challenged the law, saying it restricts lawful speech and forces platforms to collect sensitive age-verification information. A federal judge blocked key parts of the law in June 2025, but the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals later allowed enforcement to continue while the case moves through appeal.
Florida’s lawsuit seeks a court order requiring TikTok to comply with HB 3, along with civil penalties and other relief. The complaint also cites the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, saying the company gave parents a false picture of the app’s risks. Uthmeier’s office has said the state may seek large penalties if it proves repeated violations. TikTok has not admitted liability, and no final ruling has been issued in the state case. The next steps are expected to include TikTok’s formal court response and possible motions over whether the state’s claims can proceed.
The enforcement push has immediate effects for younger users in Florida. Children under 14 who had TikTok accounts may lose access as the company carries out suspensions. Teens who are 14 or 15 fall under a different rule and may need parent approval, depending on how TikTok applies its Florida changes. State officials say the law is meant to stop minors from being pushed into long viewing sessions. Industry challengers say the law goes too far and could block broad access to online speech for both minors and adults.
For now, TikTok remains available in Florida, but younger users face new limits under HB 3. The lawsuit filed June 15 is pending in St. Lucie County Circuit Court, and the separate federal challenge to the law continues on appeal.
Author note: Last updated June 17, 2026.