TikTok Child Sexual Exploitation Lawsuit

Reviewed by the legal team at Estey & Bomberger, LLP · Updated November 14, 2026

Your child's safety comes first

If you believe an adult is grooming or exploiting your child online, act quickly but calmly:

• Report to NCMEC's CyberTipline at report.cybertip.org or 1-800-843-5678.
• Report to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov, or contact your local police.
• Save evidence: screenshots of usernames, profiles, and messages. Do not save, copy, or forward any sexual images of a child, even as evidence.
• Use NCMEC's "Take It Down" tool to help remove images of minors from participating platforms.
• Do not delete the accounts. They may be needed by investigators.

Get your child connected with a counselor who works with young people who have experienced abuse. Many children's advocacy centers offer free support.

How grooming happens on social media apps

Grooming is a process. An adult builds trust with a child, often with attention, compliments, or gifts, and then slowly pushes boundaries. On social media, this can happen out of sight of parents, sometimes in a matter of days.

Lawsuits and advocates have raised concerns about specific app features, including:

• Direct messages that let adults privately contact minors
• Live streaming with virtual gifts, which families allege can let adults reward children with money-like gifts in exchange for requests
• Recommendation systems that may push minors' videos to adult viewers who seek them out
• Weak age verification that lets young children open accounts and lets adults pose as kids
• Limited parental controls and slow responses to reports

We review cases involving TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, and Facebook. Learn more about how these apps are built on our page about how TikTok addicts kids.

Signs a child may be being groomed

• A new "friend" online who is older or whom you have never met
• Secrecy about the phone, or quickly switching screens
• Unexplained gifts, money, or app credits
• Use of new or hidden messaging apps
• Sexual knowledge or language beyond their age
• Withdrawal, anxiety, or sudden changes in mood

If your child tells you something, believe them, thank them for telling you, and get help. Children who have been exploited are also at higher risk of depression and thoughts of self-harm, so ongoing support matters.

Attorneys who focus on child sexual abuse

Child sexual exploitation cases require skill, sensitivity, and experience. Our founding attorney Steve Estey focuses particularly in institutional child sexual abuse cases, holding schools, organizations, and companies responsible when they fail to protect children.

Our firm has obtained a $60 million judgment and a $30 million verdict in child sexual abuse cases. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different, but we bring that experience to families whose children were harmed through social media platforms.

How a civil case works

A criminal case is about punishing the offender. A civil case is about your child's recovery and holding responsible companies accountable. Families allege that platforms designed features that put minors within easy reach of predators and failed to warn parents of these risks. These claims may be brought alongside the broader social media litigation, including MDL No. 3047. See our TikTok addiction lawsuit page for more background.

A claim may seek costs for counseling, therapy, psychiatric care, and future treatment, along with damages for the harm your child suffered. No outcome can be promised.

Evidence and privacy

Keep screenshots of profiles and messages, report numbers from NCMEC or law enforcement, and records of any counseling. Our save evidence guide can help. Courts often allow child victims to use initials or pseudonyms, and we take every step we can to protect your child's identity.

Your consultation with Estey & Bomberger, LLP is free and confidential, and you pay nothing unless we win. We can meet remotely or come to you. Request a private case review.

Frequently Asked Questions

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