TikTok has reached a settlement with Alabama’s attorney general over allegations that features of the social media platform were designed to encourage excessive use among children and teenagers.
Under a consent decree issued by a Montgomery Circuit Court judge on Friday, TikTok will pay $116 million in restitution, according to the Alabama Reflector. A separate $183 million fund will also be established, with its use linked to whether other US states enter similar agreements.
The settlement introduces new safeguards for younger users in Alabama. Teen accounts will be blocked from accessing TikTok between midnight and 6am, while daily use will be limited to two hours by default.
Parents will also receive additional controls allowing them to monitor their children’s activity and impose restrictions on their accounts.
TikTok did not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement.
Alabama filed its lawsuit against the company in April 2025, alleging that TikTok’s design and recommendation algorithm encouraged children to remain on the platform for advertising purposes while potentially exposing them to harmful material involving drugs, self-harm and eating disorders.
TikTok had sought to have the case dismissed, relying in part on legal protections for online platforms and arguments concerning privacy law.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall welcomed the agreement, describing it as a “great day” for families and saying the new requirements would provide parents with greater oversight of how their children use the platform.
TikTok said the settlement was consistent with its existing efforts to improve protections for younger users.
The outcome “builds on our commitment and core objective to continually enhance our robust safety tools to protect teens,” the company said.