TikTok allegedly gave thousands of users non-functional versions of safety features in experiments, according to newly unsealed allegations in a lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
The lawsuit claims the users included children and teenagers who had chosen safety tools to avoid unwanted or potentially harmful content.
TikTok Allegedly Tested Fake Safety Tool
According to the lawsuit, TikTok conducted so-called “ghost” or placebo experiments involving its Algo Refresh feature.
The tool was introduced in 2023 to let users reset their “For You” recommendations. TikTok described it as a way to start fresh and receive recommendations based on new interactions.
The lawsuit alleges that some users believed they had activated the feature. However, their feeds did not change because they received a placebo version.
TikTok allegedly compared those users with people who received the working feature. The company reportedly studied how the tests affected time spent on the platform and advertising revenue.
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The lawsuit also alleges that a TikTok product manager raised concerns about the experiments.
“This feature is about algorithm transparency and control,” the employee reportedly wrote. “A placebo group completely conflicts with that.”
The allegations say TikTok nevertheless repeated the experiments on thousands of users in 2023.
Lawsuit Challenges TikTok Safety Claims
The allegations form part of James’ lawsuit against TikTok.
James filed the original case in 2024. Her office has accused TikTok of misleading users about the safety of its platform and using addictive features that can harm young people.
The lawsuit also alleges that TikTok misrepresented how its safety tools worked.
According to the complaint, TikTok presented the Refresh feature as a way to reset recommendations. The lawsuit claims the actual effect was temporary.
TikTok has rejected the allegations in court filings. A company spokesperson said TikTok regularly tests new products and features to understand how they perform.
The company also said the allegations mischaracterize how Algo Refresh works.
Separate Tests Allegedly Exposed Users to Harmful Content
The newly unsealed material also includes allegations about separate experiments involving safety settings.
The lawsuit claims TikTok randomly selected users and disabled certain safety features on their accounts. Those features were designed to limit exposure to harmful content.
The complaint refers to a New York teenager who was allegedly part of one such test.
According to the lawsuit, the teenager later died by suicide after being exposed to content related to self-harm and suicide.
The lawsuit says internal reviews found that the teenager had received an “onslaught” of such content.
These allegations have not been independently established in court.
TikTok Faces Wider State Scrutiny
New York’s case is part of a broader legal campaign against TikTok.
More than two dozen states have sued the company over allegations involving young users, addictive platform design and claims about safety.
Many filings in the cases have remained sealed or heavily redacted.
TikTok has consistently said protecting young users is a priority.
In September, TikTok settled the first state case that was scheduled for trial. The company agreed to pay Alabama up to $300 million and make changes to its platform for teenagers, according to Reuters.
The newly unsealed allegations could provide further insight into how TikTok tested and evaluated safety features.
The case remains ongoing, and the allegations against TikTok have not been proven.
