TikTok in the Dock: Arkansas A.G. to Take on Social Media Giant in 2026 Showdown

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The Arkansas Attorney General’s lawsuit against social media giant TikTok is scheduled to go to trial in October 2026, according to a recent scheduling order from the Cleburne County Circuit Court.

With upwards of a billion users worldwide, including some 150 to 170 million in the U.S., TikTok is among the most popular social media outlets on earth.

But TikTok is more than an app. It’s a major corporation owned by a China-based parent company, and it is valued at $300 billion.

However, TikTok has found itself embroiled in controversies over its failure to protect private user data from entities in China — including the Chinese Communist Party. In May 2025, Ireland’s Data Protection Commission fined TikTok $600 million for unlawfully transferring European user data to China.

The platform also has been accused of serving users a steady “diet of darkness” and violating laws intended to protect children online.

In 2023, the Arkansas Attorney General’s office filed a lawsuit against Chinese-based company ByteDance — the corporation that owns TikTok — in Cleburne County Circuit Court.

Attorneys for TikTok worked relentlessly to have the lawsuit dismissed, but the Arkansas Supreme Court has given the A.G.’s office a green light to pursue the case.

Attorney General Griffin’s lawsuit alleges TikTok violated Arkansas’ Deceptive Trade Practices Act by falsely claiming that graphic and mature content on its platform is appropriate for teens. The lawsuit also calls the TikTok app “a Chinese ‘Trojan Horse’ unleashed on unsuspecting American consumers.”

As we keep saying, social media platforms are more than just websites or phone apps. These are multibillion-dollar businesses. The people who own and profit from these companies have a responsibility to protect their users.

Family Council is not aware of any attorney general in America who is doing more to hold social media giants accountable and protect children online than Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin. We appreciate his willingness to continue this legal fight against TikTok in state court.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Preteen Social Media Use Tied to Lower Scores in Reading, Memory: New Study

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A new study shows social media use among children is tied to lower test scores in reading and memory.

Researchers writing in JAMA analyzed data from 6,554 adolescents. While researchers noted the study was limited, they pointed out, “The finding that even low levels of early adolescent social media exposure were linked to poorer cognitive performance may suggest support for stricter age restrictions.”

A growing body of evidence shows that — by design — social media platforms are not appropriate for children.

TikTok has been accused of serving kids a steady “diet of darkness” online and struggling to protect private user data from entities in China, such as the Chinese Communist Party.

Facebook and Instagram have been accused of using algorithms intentionally designed “to exploit human psychology and foster addiction to maximize users’ screen time.”

That’s why Arkansas lawmakers have taken steps to protect kids online. The 2023 Social Media Safety Act by Sen. Tyler Dees (R – Siloam Springs) and Rep. Jon Eubanks (R – Paris) is a good law that requires major social media companies to make sure minors don’t access social media platforms without parental consent. A social media company that violated the law could be held liable.

The law received strong support at the legislature, but tech giants — such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok — sued to strike down the Social Media Safety Act as unconstitutional. The Arkansas Attorney General is currently defending the law in court.

As we keep saying, social media is more than just websites or phone apps. These are multibillion dollar businesses with tremendous influence.

The adults who run these businesses have a responsibility to protect children on their platforms.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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8th Circuit Gives Arkansas A.G. Greenlight to Appeal Case Protecting Kids Online

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Earlier this month the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals gave Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin’s office a greenlight to continue defending a state law designed to protect children online.

In 2023 the Arkansas Legislature passed the Social Media Safety Act. This good law by Sen. Tyler Dees (R – Siloam Springs) and Rep. Jon Eubanks (R – Paris) requires major social media companies to ensure minors don’t access social media platforms without parental consent. A social media company that violated the law could be held liable.

In response, a group of social media tech giants sued to strike down the Social Media Safety Act as unconstitutional.

In March U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks in Fayetteville issued a final order blocking the State of Arkansas from enforcing the Social Media Safety Act. Among other things, Judge Brooks’ ruling claims that Arkansas’ Social Media Safety Act is unconstitutionally broad and vague.

However, the A.G.’s team has appealed that decision. A panel of judges at the Eighth Circuit have now asked Attorney General Griffin to submit a brief in the case by November 3.

A growing body of evidence shows that — by design — social media platforms are not appropriate for children.

TikTok has been accused of serving kids a steady “diet of darkness” online and struggling to protect private user data from entities in China, such as the Chinese Communist Party.

The Arkansas Attorney General’s Office has filed documents in other court cases alleging that platforms like Facebook and Instagram are built around algorithms intentionally designed “to exploit human psychology and foster addiction to maximize users’ screen time,” and that this exploitation is especially true of young users with developing brains.

Social media platforms are more than just websites or phone apps. These are multibillion dollar corporations, and the adults who own and profit from them have a responsibility to protect children on their platforms. They should not be able to register children as users and let those children post photos and videos on their platforms without parental consent.

Family Council is not aware of any attorney general in America who is doing more to hold social media giants accountable and protect children online than Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin. We appreciate his willingness to appeal to the Eighth Circuit, and we are confident our federal courts ultimately will let Arkansas protect children on social media.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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