Seven French families have sued TikTok, alleging that the platform exposed their teenage children to dangerous content, and two of the teenagers tragically took their own lives at the age of 15. This legal action, filed before the judicial court of Créteil, marks the first class action lawsuit of its kind in Europe. Lawyer Laure Boutron-Marmion, who represents the families, claimed that TikTok’s algorithm allegedly exposed these teens to harmful material promoting suicide, self-harm and eating disorders, which could contribute to a mental health crisis among young users.

The families seek to hold TikTok legally responsible for its impact on young and vulnerable users. According to Boutron-Marmion, “parents want the courts to recognize TikTok’s legal responsibility.” It highlighted that TikTok is a commercial entity that provides a service to young consumers, the majority of whom are minors, and therefore should be held responsible for any harm resulting from the content promoted by its algorithm.

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Long-standing criticism

TikTok, like other social media platforms, has faced widespread criticism for its ability to regulate harmful content, especially as it relates to the mental health of minors. In the United States, similar legal challenges have been raised against platforms such as Facebook and Meta’s Instagram, with hundreds of lawsuits accusing these platforms of fostering addiction among young users and contributing to a mental health crisis among children and adolescents.

TikTok has maintained that it prioritizes the mental health and safety of its users, especially young people. CEO Shou Zi Chew addressed US lawmakers earlier this year and emphasized that the company has implemented several safeguards designed to protect younger users on the platform. TikTok says these measures are part of its broader commitment to creating a safer online environment. However, the French lawsuit suggests that some parents believe more needs to be done to protect young people from the app’s potentially harmful content.