Key facts
- TikTok misled users about how it filtered content for minors, a Texas judge ruled.
- The company's "Restricted Mode" did not work as advertised, according to the ruling.
- TikTok internally classified some content as "hard to find" rather than "do not allow."
- The ruling found TikTok violated Texas's consumer protection law.
- The case will proceed to trial next month to determine penalties.
A Texas judge ruled on Thursday that TikTok violated the state's consumer protection law by misleading users about its content filtering for minors and the effectiveness of its "Restricted Mode" feature. The ruling, made by Judge Cory Liu, found that TikTok told users it would remove content violating its Community Guidelines but internally classified some of that material as "hard to find" rather than "do not allow," allowing it to remain on the platform. Liu also stated that "Restricted Mode" did not work as advertised and exposed minors to content the company claimed would be filtered out.
Texas sued TikTok in January 2025, alleging the company marketed its platform as safe for children. TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours. The office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said the case will now proceed to trial, where penalties and other remedies will be determined. The trial is expected to be scheduled next month.
In August, TikTok agreed to settle three U.S. lawsuits brought by young people who accused social media companies of designing their platforms to be addictive and harming their mental health. Separately in August, Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion to settle similar U.S. addiction claims.