TikTok will impose sweeping new restrictions on teenagers in Alabama after agreeing to pay the state at least $100 million to settle allegations that it designed the platform to keep children scrolling and misled parents about its safety.
The agreement, announced by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall on Friday, will introduce daily time limits, overnight restrictions and a non-personalised feed for young users. The settlement was reached days before the case was due to become the first state-led TikTok youth safety lawsuit to go before a jury.
Alabama is due to receive the initial payment within 45 days. The amount could rise to as much as $300 million if specified conditions are met, according to the attorney general’s office.
New TikTok limits for Alabama teenagers
Under the agreement, children and teenagers will face a two-hour daily limit on TikTok, with parents able to reduce that allowance further through new controls.
Access will also be restricted between midnight and 6am. Messaging and push notifications will face additional limits overnight and during school hours.
The platform must introduce mandatory “productive pauses” after 15 minutes of continuous use, followed by further interruptions at 60 and 90 minutes. Cosmetic filters will be prohibited for teenage users.
TikTok’s personalised “For You” feed will be replaced by a default non-personalised feed for minors. The company will also strengthen age-assurance measures, restrict the discoverability of teen accounts by adults and alert parents to suspicious interactions between teenagers and adults.
The settlement requires the changes to be implemented within 45 days. TikTok could face a further $300 million penalty if it fails to comply with the agreement.
Mr Marshall said the deal would give parents greater control over what their children see and how long they spend on the app.
“This is a great day for Alabama parents,” he said. “TikTok has agreed to give parents real control over what their kids see and how much time they spend on the app.”
The Republican attorney general filed the lawsuit in April 2025 under Alabama’s consumer protection law. The complaint alleged that TikTok’s recommendation system exposed children to material involving self-harm, eating disorders, suicide, drugs and sexually explicit content.
It also accused the company of overstating the effectiveness of features including Restricted Mode and age verification, while designing the platform around compulsive use.
TikTok has not admitted wrongdoing as part of the settlement. A spokesperson for its USDS Joint Venture said the company’s priority had “always been fostering a safe and positive space where people can be creative, discover what they love, and connect with their community”.
The spokesperson added that the agreement built on TikTok’s efforts to improve its safety tools for teenagers.
Alabama’s case had been scheduled to go to trial on Monday. The state would have been the first to present claims against TikTok before a jury over allegations that the platform harmed young people’s mental health.
The settlement is the latest legal challenge facing TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance. In August, the company agreed to pay $400 million to resolve a US Justice Department case alleging violations of children’s privacy laws.
