Recent research of Google search data shows that on August 19, the day the Minnesota Attorney General filed a lawsuit against the social media giant TikTok, interest in the question “Is TikTok safe for kids?” skyrocketed in the United States.
The research initiated by UX/UI design agency Tenscope reveals that public concern over the platform’s safety achieved ‘breakout’ status on Google Trends, materializing virtually overnight.
The study shows that parents are deeply concerned about how technology will affect their kids. A 2024 study by Internet Matters found that 63% of parents think their kids’ internet use has a detrimental effect on their health.
Jovan Babovic, co-founder and creative director of Tenscope, commented on the findings: “This isn’t just a small increase; it’s a seismic shift in public awareness. The lawsuit has taken the concept of ‘addictive design’ from an abstract industry term to a kitchen-table concern for millions of parents.
”This data proves that trust in platforms to regulate themselves is collapsing, and there is now a clear and urgent demand for digital products that are built to prioritize the well-being of their users, especially children, over engagement at any cost.”
Recall that TikTok was sued by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who claimed that the social media behemoth was putting kids at risk by encouraging compulsive use and exposing them to offensive material.
According to the lawsuit, TikTok’s algorithms are purposefully made to keep kids interested for long stretches of time, which fuels growing worries about the mental health of young people.
TikTok, which has been sued in similar ways by other jurisdictions, says it protects younger users by offering content filters, screen time limitations, and parental controls.
