Can parents tell whether a recommendation reset is working? Here’s what the lawsuit alleges, and practical ways families can check the tools they use.

By Janice Robinson-Celeste

Quick Review

• New York alleges that TikTok gave thousands of users, including teens and children, a nonworking version of its Algo Refresh feature during 2023 tests.
• The complaint alleges the tests measured effects on engagement time and advertising revenue.
• The allegations are unproven, and TikTok disputes them. No court finding establishes the claims.
• TikTok says it regularly tests features; its statement does not establish how the reset works today.
• Parents can test settings, observe what happens afterward, and report concerns, but no setting guarantees a particular feed.

TikTok’s Response

TikTok told Reuters: “We continuously make improvements to our platform which means that, like most companies, we regularly test new products and features to validate the experience and understand how they work in the real world.”

The company disputes New York’s allegations, saying they mischaracterize how the feature operates. That response is important context: the lawsuit describes claims, not proven findings. TikTok’s statement also does not explain whether any individual user’s setting is working today.

What New York Alleges

In a lawsuit made public in October, New York alleges that during 2023 tests, thousands of TikTok users, including minors, were given a nonfunctional, or “placebo,” version of Algo Refresh. The feature is intended to restart recommendations in a user’s For You feed.

According to the complaint, users believed they had activated the reset, but their feeds did not change, unlike the feeds of users who received the functioning version. New York alleges TikTok measured the effect on users’ time on the platform and advertising revenue. The complaint also alleges an employee raised ethical concerns about the experiment.

Reuters’ report and coverage from TechCrunch and The Verge describe allegations in the case. New York’s lawsuit is among more than two dozen state suits accusing TikTok of encouraging addictive use among minors and misleading users about safety. Those broader claims are also allegations, not findings of fact.

Separately, TechCrunch reported on a Bloomberg account of another alleged experiment involving a safety feature and millions of U.S. users. That report is context about separate claims, not proof of the Algo Refresh allegations.

Why A Placebo Safety Test Matters

A recommendation reset is intended to give people a way to shape what appears in a feed. TikTok’s feature announcement says a refresh starts recommendations as if someone had just joined, with new suggestions developing from later interactions.

If a user believes a safety tool has worked when it has not, they may keep relying on a feed they were trying to change. That is why the allegations raise a practical issue for families: enabling a setting is only the first step. It is also reasonable to check what happens afterward.

Can Parents Tell If A Safety Feature Is Actually Working?

You cannot confirm a platform’s internal systems from home, and a feed may not change in a perfectly predictable way. But you and your teen can check whether the experience appears to respond:

1. Test the reset together. Find the recommendation refresh option and follow the current in-app directions.
2. Observe the next several recommendations. Look for a noticeable mix of content, including topics that are unrelated to recent viewing. A change may not be instant or definitive, so one video alone does not prove whether the feature worked.
3. Check settings after app updates. Menus and features can change. Revisit the relevant controls rather than assuming an old setup is unchanged.
4. Try reporting when content is concerning. Note whether TikTok confirms receipt or provides a response. Reporting does not guarantee removal.
5. Agree on what a reset should do. Ask your teen what they expected to see and compare that with what appears afterward.

What Parents Can Do Right Now

• Review recommendation settings with your teen and test the refresh feature together.
• Use Family Pairing and Restricted Mode as part of a broader plan. Start with SCN’s TikTok Safety Checklist for Parents: 12 Settings to Check.
• Use TikTok’s reporting tools for harmful or unwanted content.
• If unwanted content keeps appearing after a reset or report, save dated screenshots, continue reporting, and reconsider whether app access is right for your child.
• Keep the conversation open: ask what feels uncomfortable and make clear your teen can come to you for support.

For more support, explore SCN’s digital safety resources and guidance on parental control tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did TikTok Admit To This?

No. The claims are unproven, and TikTok disputes them. The company says it routinely tests products and features.

Does The Lawsuit Prove The Reset Is Not Working Today?

No. The complaint describes alleged tests in 2023. It does not establish how the feature works today or what happened on any particular family’s account.

What Should We Do If The Feed Does Not Seem To Change?

Review the in-app instructions and settings, observe more than one recommendation, and report concerning content. If the experience remains troubling, document what you see and consider limiting or pausing app use.

Does A Reset Replace Other Safety Settings?

No. A reset is one tool for shaping recommendations. Privacy settings, reporting, family conversations, and age-appropriate boundaries remain important.

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