MONTGOMERY– Alabama will receive at least $100 million under a TikTok settlement that also requires new safeguards for children and teens.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the agreement Friday, Sept. 25. The payment is due within 45 days, with the potential for Alabama to receive as much as $300 million.

However, the higher amount depends on certain conditions. The announcement does not detail those conditions.

Alabama alleged that TikTok used addictive design features and knowingly exposed young users to serious mental harms. State officials also accused the company of intentionally misleading the public about the platform’s safety.

“TikTok has agreed to give parents real control over what their kids see and how much time they spend on the app,” Marshall said.

TikTok Settlement Requires Time Limits and Overnight Restrictions

The settlement calls for a two-hour daily time limit, according to Marshall’s office. Parents will also have controls allowing them to further reduce their children’s time on the app.

In addition, teen users will encounter “productive pauses” after 15 minutes of continuous use and again at 60 and 90 minutes. Those interruptions aim to curb endless scrolling.

The agreement also requires restrictions on children’s access between midnight and 6 a.m. It includes limits on messaging and push notifications overnight and during school hours as well.

Stronger Parental Controls and Teen Account Protections

Beyond time restrictions, TikTok must strengthen its measures for verifying young users’ ages. The agreement also requires stronger content moderation and limits on adults’ ability to discover teen accounts.

Parents must receive notification of suspicious interactions between teens and adults. In addition, the settlement prohibits teen users from using cosmetic filters and requires a default feed without personalized recommendations.

The company must also provide stronger parental controls that are easier to use.

Marshall’s office described the agreement as the first settlement of its kind in the nation. It came ahead of a trial scheduled to begin Monday, Sept. 28.

Alabama would have been the first state to take its claims against TikTok to trial, according to the attorney general’s office.

STATE NEWS