TikTok ran experiments in which thousands of users who tried to activate a safety feature were given a non-functional version of it, according to newly unsealed allegations in New York's lawsuit against the company, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

In what the documents describe as "ghost" or placebo experiments, TikTok selected thousands of users — including teenagers and children — who opted to use features such as "Algo Refresh", a tool designed to reset recommendation feeds for people trying to escape unwanted or potentially harmful content. According to the lawsuit, those users believed the feature had been switched on, but their feeds did not change at all, while a control group received the fully working version.

The allegations form part of New York Attorney General Letitia James's lawsuit against the company, one of more than two dozen cases brought by US states accusing TikTok of engineering its platform to addict children and of misleading the public about its safety.

What the unsealed documents claim

The state's filing paints a picture of a company that publicly insists child safety is a top priority while knowingly preventing some of the very users who sought protection from actually receiving it.

According to the allegations, the placebo tests targeted users who had specifically asked to reset their algorithmic feeds — the exact group most concerned about exposure to unwanted or harmful content. Many internal documents in state cases nationwide have been sealed or heavily redacted as TikTok has fought to keep operational details from public view.

The lawsuit also argues that TikTok's design choices — from infinite scroll to attention-grabbing notifications — were built to maximise engagement among young users, even as the company assured parents its platform was appropriate for kids and teens.

TikTok's response

A TikTok spokesperson told Reuters that the company continuously improves its platform and, "like most companies, regularly test[s] new products and features to validate the experience and understand how they work in the real world."

The company has broadly denied New York's allegations in court filings and maintains that keeping young users safe is a priority. TikTok has previously pointed to measures including default screen-time limits, family pairing and privacy-by-default settings for minors under 16.

A growing legal pile-up

The unsealed allegations land amid a sweeping legal offensive against the company:

  • More than two dozen US states have sued TikTok, accusing it of addicting children and misleading users about safety.
  • In September, TikTok settled the first state lawsuit set for trial, agreeing to pay Alabama up to $300 million and to change how its platform functions for teens in the state.
  • Investigators have previously cited internal TikTok communications comparing the app's algorithm to the addictive mechanics of slot machines.

Regulators outside the United States are watching closely. Europe's Digital Services Act has forced major platforms to open their recommendation systems to scrutiny, and several countries — including France, which has debated a social-media ban for minors — are tightening rules on how platforms treat young users. Read Chronicle's coverage of that debate in France weighs social-media restrictions for minors.

Why it matters

Safety features only protect the people who can actually use them. If the unsealed documents prove accurate, TikTok was not merely slow to protect vulnerable users — it actively tested the illusion of protection on them. For a company whose recommendation engine has been linked to tragic outcomes, including the death of teenagers exposed to dangerous challenge videos, the distinction between a working safety tool and a placebo is not academic.

The New York case is still being litigated, and TikTok will have its day in court. But the unsealing marks a turning point in the states' campaign: internal experiments, once buried under redactions, are now entering the public record.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did TikTok allegedly do, according to the New York lawsuit?

The state alleges TikTok ran "ghost" or placebo experiments on thousands of users — including teens and children — who tried to activate safety features like "Algo Refresh". Those users believed the feature was working, but their feeds did not change, while a control group received the fully functional tool.

Who is suing TikTok?

New York Attorney General Letitia James brought the lawsuit in question. It is one of more than two dozen cases filed by US states accusing TikTok of designing its platform to addict children and of misleading users about its safety measures.

How has TikTok responded?

TikTok has broadly denied the allegations in court filings. A spokesperson said the company regularly tests new products and features, and maintains that keeping young users safe is a priority.

What happened in the Alabama TikTok case?

In September, TikTok settled the first state lawsuit set for trial, agreeing to pay Alabama up to $300 million and to change how its platform functions for teenagers in the state.

More on platform accountability: France weighs social-media restrictions for minors.