TikTok has agreed to pay the US state of Alabama at least $100m and introduce new restrictions and safety measures for teenage users as part of a settlement reached ahead of a trial over allegations that the platform harmed young people.
The agreement, announced on Friday, September 25, 2026, means TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, will avoid a trial that was scheduled to begin in Alabama on Monday. The state had accused the social media company of misleading parents about measures designed to protect children from harmful content and of operating features that could encourage excessive use.
Under the settlement, teenage users in Alabama will face a two-hour daily limit on TikTok use. Their accounts will also be restricted from accessing the platform between midnight and 6am, while notifications will be suspended during school hours. The company will also introduce stronger age-verification measures and additional parental controls.
Teenagers will be given the option of using a non-personalised content feed, meaning their viewing recommendations will not be based on the platform’s personalised algorithm.
The settlement also prohibits cosmetic-procedure filters for teenage users in Alabama. Teen accounts will be private by default, while TikTok will introduce additional prompts encouraging young users to take breaks from the platform after periods of continuous use.
The financial terms require TikTok to pay Alabama $100m in restitution and remediation. The state could receive additional money, potentially bringing the total to about $300m, if certain conditions involving similar settlements with other states are met.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall welcomed the agreement, saying it would provide greater protection for young people using the platform. His comments reflected the state’s position in the lawsuit rather than an independent judicial finding that TikTok was liable for the allegations.
TikTok, for its part, said its priority has always been to provide a safe environment where users can create, discover content and interact with their communities. The company said the Alabama agreement builds on its existing efforts to strengthen safety measures for teenagers.
The Alabama case is part of a wider legal battle in the United States over the effect of social media platforms on children and teenagers. Several US states and families have brought lawsuits against major technology companies, alleging that their platforms were designed or operated in ways that could encourage excessive use and expose young users to harmful content.
The settlement also follows a major agreement involving Meta, the owner of Instagram and Facebook. TikTok’s new restrictions broadly mirror several measures included in Meta’s recent settlement with US states, including limits on teenage usage, nighttime restrictions and additional safety controls.
TikTok is also facing separate legal scrutiny over children’s privacy. In August, the US Department of Justice announced a $400m settlement with TikTok, ByteDance and affiliated entities concerning allegations that the company violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. The agreement required a $300m immediate payment and a further $100m subject to a court order concerning an earlier consent decree involving TikTok’s predecessor, Musical.ly. The Justice Department stressed that the claims resolved by that settlement were allegations and that there had been no determination of liability.
The latest Alabama settlement therefore represents another significant step in the growing US regulatory and legal pressure on social media companies over youth safety.
For TikTok users outside Alabama, the immediate restrictions in this agreement do not automatically establish the same limits nationwide. However, the settlement could influence similar negotiations and lawsuits in other US states as authorities continue to examine how social media platforms verify users’ ages, manage teenage accounts and protect young people online.
