New York has alleged that TikTok gave thousands of users, including children and teens, a placebo version of its "Algo Refresh" safety feature as part of an experiment, according to unsealed court filings. Users who activated the feature believed it worked, but their feeds did not change, unlike users who received the fully functional version.
The allegation is part of an updated version of New York's 2024 lawsuit against TikTok, which was ordered unsealed by a judge. Both The Verge and TechCrunch report the same core claim. The Verge additionally notes that an internal TikTok product manager raised concerns, saying a placebo group "completely conflicts" with the feature's purpose of algorithm transparency and control.
TikTok responded that, like most companies, it regularly tests new products and features. TechCrunch adds broader context: the lawsuit is among more than two dozen state cases, and Bloomberg reported earlier this year that TikTok withheld a safety update from 15 million users, including a teenager who later died by suicide. The two outlets do not differ on the main facts, though TechCrunch includes more legal background.