More than a dozen states and the District of Columbia filed lawsuits against TikTok on Tuesday, alleging that the short-form video app harms the mental health of young people by designing its platform to be addictive. children.

The cases are from a national search on TikTokwhich was launched in March 2022 by a partnership of two attorneys from many states, including New York, California, Kentucky and New Jersey. All complaints were filed in national courts.

At the heart of each case is TikTok’s algorithm, which enhances what users see on the platform by filling the main “For You” feed of the app with content tailored to people’s interests. Cases also highlight design features that they say make kids addicted to the platform, such as the ability to scroll endlessly through content, push notifications that come with built-in “buzzes” and filters face that creates an unattainable appearance for users.

In its filings, the District of Columbia called the algorithm “dopamine-inducing,” and said it was intentionally designed to be addictive so the company could trap more young users into using it excessively and keep them in the loop. its device many hours. TikTok is doing this despite knowing that this behavior will lead to “serious mental and physical harm,” such as anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia and other long-lasting problems, to said the complaint.

“There’s merit in the fact that it’s engaging young people on its platform,” District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb said in an interview.

“We strongly disagree with these allegations, many of which we believe are inaccurate and misleading. We are proud of and remain committed to the work we have done to protect young people, and we will continue to improve and improve our product,” said TikTok spokesperson Alex Haurek in response to the allegations. “We tried to work with lawyers for more than two years, and it is very disappointing that they have taken this step instead of working with us to resolve the industry’s problems.”

The social media firm does not allow children under the age of 13 to sign up for its core service and blocks some content for anyone under the age of 18. But Washington and several other states have said in their filing that children can easily circumvent those restrictions, allowing them to get the service. adults use despite the company’s claims that its platform is safe for children.

“TikTok says it’s safe for young people, but that’s not true. In New York and across the country, young people have died or been injured doing dangerous TikTok challenges and many others feel sad, worried and depressed because of the addictive features of TikTok,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement.

Their case also focuses on other aspects of the company’s business.

The district accuses TikTok of operating as an “unlicensed economy” by allowing people to buy TikTok coins – the currency available within the platform – and sending “Gifts” to people who stream on TikTok LIVE they can withdraw it with real money. TikTok takes a 50% commission on these financial transactions but has not been registered as a money transfer with the US Treasury Department or state authorities, according to the complaint.

Officials say young people are regularly targeted for sexually explicit content on TikTok’s LIVE streaming service, which has allowed the app to act as a “virtual strip club” without age restrictions. They say reducing the company from the financial system to allow it to profit by exploitation.

The 14 attorneys said the purpose of their lawsuits is to prevent TikTok from using these features, impose financial penalties for their illegal practices and collect damages for injured users.

Many countries have filed lawsuits against TikTok and other technology companies in the past few years as numbers grow against social media platforms and their growing influence on young people’s lives. In some cases, the challenges are linked in the same way that countries were organized against the tobacco and pharmaceutical industries.

Last week, the Attorney General of Texas Ken Paxton sued TikTok, saying the company is sharing and selling children’s personal information in violation of a new state law that prohibits these practices. TikTok, which disputes the charges, is also fighting a similar lawsuit involving data brought up in August by the Justice Department.

Several Republican-led states, such as Nebraska, Kansas, New Hampshire, Kansas, Iowa and Arkansas, have also sued the company, others are unsuccessfulwith allegations that it damages the mental health of children, exposes them to “inappropriate” material or allows young people to be sexually abused on its platform. Arkansas has brought a legal challenge against YouTube, along with Meta Platform, which owns Facebook and Instagram and has been sued by many states for its claims of harming the mental health of young people. New York City and other public school districts have also brought their own lawsuits.

TikTok, in particular, is facing some challenges at the national level. Under federal law that went into effect earlier this year, TikTok could be banned from the US by mid-January if its China-based parent company ByteDance does not sell the platform by then.

Both TikTok and ByteDance are challenging the law in a Washington appeals court. A panel of three judges heard oral arguments in a trial last month and is expected to issue a ruling, which could be appealed to the United States Supreme Court.

TOP LINE:

Gestational supplementation of 1000 IU/d cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) from prenatal to delivery increases bone mineral density, bone mineral density (BMD), and bone density in 6-year-old children. 7.

WORK:

• The double-blind, placebo-controlled MAVIDOS trial of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy showed an increase in BMD at 4 years of age (but no difference at birth), and it is not clear how the effect may persist or change over time.
• In the first trial, researchers involved 1134 singleton pregnancies from three UK hospitals from 2008 to 2014, and 723 babies born to mothers recruited in Southampton. they are invited to continue following the children.
• Mothers were assigned to receive 1000-IU/d vitamin D or placebo from 14-17 weeks of gestation until delivery; women in the placebo arm could take up to 400-IU/d vitamin D.
• In this post hoc study, among 454 children who were followed at 6-7 years of age, 447 had a usable whole-body and lumbar spine dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scan. (placebo group: n = 216; 48% boys; 98 % White mothers and vitamin D group: n = 231% boys; 96%;
• Child follow-up measures at birth and 4 and 6-7 years were bone mass, bone mineral density, BMD, and apparent bone density, derived from a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scan of whole body less head (WBLH), plus fat and lean mass.

TAKE AWAY:

• The effect of prenatal vitamin D supplementation on bone outcomes in children was similar at 4 and 6-7 years.
• At 6–7 years of age, prenatal vitamin D supplementation resulted in higher WBLH (0.15 SD; 95% CI, 0.04–0.26) and BMD (0.18 SD; 95% CI, 0.06– 0.31) than placebo.
• The WBLH bone mineral apparent density (0.18 SD; 95% CI, 0.04-0.32) was also higher in the vitamin D group.
• Weight gain was greater in the vitamin D group (0.09 SD; 95% CI, 0.00-0.17) than in the placebo group.

USE:

“These findings suggest that prenatal vitamin D supplementation may be an important population health strategy to improve bone health,” the authors wrote.

SOURCE:

The study was led by Rebecca J. Moon, PhD, MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, England. Published online by The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

ACTIONS:

Only people with baseline vitamin D levels of 25-100 nmol/L were eligible, except for those with severe deficiency who may benefit most from supplementation. The majority of participants were White and educated, often overweight, which may have limited generalizability to other populations. Only 47% of the first group participated in the follow-up. Differences in maternal age, smoking status, and education between participants who remained in the study and those who did not may have introduced bias and generalization.

DISCLOSURE:

The study was supported by Versus Arthritis UK, the Medical Research Council, the Bupa Foundation, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the Southampton Biomedical Research Institute, and other sources. Some authors have disclosed that they receive travel, speaker or teaching fees, honoraria, research funds, or individual or consulting fees from the Alliance for Better Bone Health and various pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical devices, health care, and food and nutrition companies without outsourced work.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors have reviewed this content before publication.

Despite a 13-year ban on the use of the pain reliever and antipyretic drug Nimesulide in children, reports of side effects continue to reach the drug watchdog – indicating that the drug is still being prescribed , News18 has learned.

Following these results, the watchdog Indian Pharmacopeia Commission (IPC) has urged drug manufacturers to ‘warn’ pediatricians and other healthcare professionals about the importance of not giving this drug to children.

Nimesulide is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and is approved for sale for adults in India. It helps relieve pain associated with various disease states and reduce high fever that is not controlled by general medicine.

In 2011, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare banned the use of Nimesulide in children under 12 years of age.

In many countries, products containing Nimesulide are not approved for children under the age of 12. This drug is considered hepatotoxic and children are considered at risk of developing liver disease, “Union Department of Health said in a statement dated March 11, 2011.

However, despite the ban, the Pharmacovigilance Program of India (PvPI) – which monitors and collects information on adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and adverse events related to pharmaceutical products – receives complaints.

According to the letter, obtained by News18, the Indian Pharmacopeia Commission (IPC) – which runs the Pharmacovigilance Program of India (PvPI) – has decided to launch an “action” on health professionals and consumers to do not use the drug Nimesulide in children under 12 years of age.

The IPC has written a letter to all drug manufacturers who have marketing authorization for the drug to initiate the process.

Publish information and post notices

While reminding that the Ministry of Public Health in January 2011 prohibited the manufacture, sale and distribution of the drug, the letter dated October 1 said, “PvPI is receiving reports that Nimesulide has caused adverse drug reactions from marketing authorization holders under PvPI.”

It also called for action in the interest of “pediatric patient safety” and urged all health professionals and concerned consumers not to prescribe or administer Nimesulide to minors. 12.

The letter placed the responsibility for the publication of this warning on marketing authorization holders or pharma companies where they are required to “tell this information and warning poster” to “pediatricians, consultants in their hospital and a professional center for spreading awareness…”

What does the new poster say?

A new poster prepared by PvPI to raise awareness, seen by News18, states that “Nimesulide is a painkiller” and is “prohibited for use in children under 12 years of age.”

Showing a child refusing to take the medicine, the poster reads that the drug can cause “liver toxicity, adverse skin effects such as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.”

An old practice, doctors who don’t know can still prescribe: Specialists

Dr. Dinesh Raj, a pediatrician at Delhi’s Holy Family Hospital, was surprised to see Nimesulide used so far.

“Nimesulide is banned in children but, surprisingly, it is still being used. Doctors may not know about the negative effects of Nimesulide in children,” he said while explaining that this medicine is used for fever and pain.

“Besides the common side effects of gastritis, vomiting, abdominal pain etc., it has been associated with serious side effects such as stomach bleeding and liver failure,” he added. by saying.

Dr GV Basavaraja, president of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), told News18 that such a mistake can only be made by those who are old doctors and are not updated with the current guidelines.

Also, he said that in remote health care areas such as community health centers (PHCs) or community health centers (CHCs), many pediatricians are not available and are doctors who general or other counselors who give drugs to children. “In this situation, there is a great opportunity to prescribe Nimesulide as doctors (who treat adult patients) may not be aware of the contraindication in children.”

Basavaraja, who is also a renowned pediatrician based in Bengaluru, said that in the last 15 years, he has not written a single prescription for Nimesulide. “The IAP strongly recommends that doctors should not prescribe this drug to children and we will send advice to our 50,000 members again as a reminder.”

Echoing similar sentiments, Dr Maninder Dhaliwal, a pediatric pulmonologist at NCR-based Amrita Hospital, believes that not all doctors may be fully aware of the updated guidelines or may misinterpret the restrictions.

“In some cases, the changes in management are not as well communicated, perhaps in small or rural settings. I don’t think there is a pediatrician who prescribes nimesulide for fever. The prevention is clear but some doctors may prescribe it due to lack of awareness, since in adults it is being used,” Dr. Dhaliwal said.

He also said that “habit and familiarity with the drug in adult medicine can lead to a better understanding of nimesulide. Or sometimes the habits may continue even after regulatory changes, and if only it would be rare.”