On October 7, 2026, allegations in New York Attorney General Letitia James’s updated lawsuit against TikTok became public: the complaint says TikTok tested nonfunctional versions of Algo Refresh in 2023 with users, including minors. Some users allegedly believed they had activated the feature, but their For You recommendations did not change.
What New York alleges about Algo Refresh
Algo Refresh is described as a feature for refreshing recommendations in TikTok’s For You feed. The lawsuit alleges that some users received a working version while others got a nonfunctional comparison version—a software “placebo.” Those users reportedly tried to activate the feature, but their recommendations stayed the same.
The allegation concerns the difference between the versions: one refreshed recommendations and the other did not. The complaint says users, including minors, were involved in the tests.
Three reported phases in 2023
The lawsuit’s reported breakdown gives separate participant counts for three alleged phases:
| Alleged phase | Users in the phase |
| February–March 2023 | More than 19,000 |
| April 2023 | More than 28,000 |
| May 2023 | More than 16,000 |
These are counts for individual phases, not a combined count of distinct people.
What the lawsuit says the tests measured
The complaint alleges that the tests compared time spent on TikTok and advertising revenue between users who received a working feature and those in placebo groups.
It also alleges that participants and their parents were not told that a user might receive a nonfunctional version, and that participants were not offered a way to opt out.
TikTok’s response and the case status
TikTok says it regularly tests products and features to understand how they work in real-world use. The company also says the allegations mischaracterize how Algo Refresh works.
The claims remain allegations in the lawsuit; no court ruling has resolved them.
