Published: Sep 27, 2026, 5:18 AM
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Alabama teenagers using TikTok will soon face two-hour daily limits, overnight curfews and an end to the app's customized "For You" page after the social media giant reached a $100 million settlement with the state.
TikTok reached the first-of-its-kind settlement just days before the lawsuit was scheduled to go to trial. Rather than imposing only financial penalties, the agreement requires the company to overhaul several of its core features for minors.
"TikTok has agreed to give parents real control over what their kids see and how much time they spend on the app," Republican Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a statement. "We've said from day one that our number one goal was to stand up for Alabamians when they are being harmed, and today, we did exactly that."
TikTok said the settlement reflects its ongoing efforts to improve safety features for teens.
"TikTok's priority has always been fostering a safe and positive space where people can be creative, discover what they love, and connect with their community," a TikTok USDS Joint Venture spokesperson said. "This builds on our commitment and core objective to continually enhance our robust safety tools to protect teens."
Marshall filed the lawsuit against TikTok in April 2025, alleging the company intentionally designed the app to keep children scrolling while misleading parents about its safety features and the risks it posed to minors.
The lawsuit alleged TikTok's recommendation algorithm exposed children to content involving self-harm, eating disorders, suicide, drugs and sexually explicit material, while overstating the effectiveness of tools such as Restricted Mode and age-verification features.
Within 45 days, TikTok must implement sweeping changes to how minors use the app. Among the most significant is disabling the personalized "For You" page for children. The algorithm-driven feed, which recommends videos based on a user's viewing habits, is widely considered the centerpiece of TikTok's engagement strategy.
The agreement also imposes two-hour daily limits, overnight curfews, mandatory "productive pauses" after 15 minutes of continuous use and then another pause at 60 and 90 minutes, bans cosmetic filters for children, strengthens age-verification measures and adds new safeguards limiting interactions between teen and adult accounts.
The changes are intended to curb addictive use among minors and strengthen protections for young users. If TikTok fails to comply with the settlement, the company could face an additional $300 million penalty.
The settlement marks the latest setback for TikTok, which has faced bipartisan scrutiny in Washington for years. Although the social media platform avoided a nationwide U.S. ban earlier this year after its Chinese parent company agreed to divest control of its American operations, it continues to face lawsuits and ongoing questions over children's safety and date privacy.
In August, TikTok reached a $400 million settlement with the Justice Department over allegations that it violated children's privacy laws and failed to adequately protect young users.
Fox News Digital reached out to TikTok for comment.
