Seven French families have taken legal action against TikTok, alleging that the platform exposed their adolescent children to harmful content, resulting in two of them taking their own lives at the age of 15, according to their lawyer, Laure Boutron-Marmion, who spoke to franceinfo on Monday.
The lawsuit claims that TikTok's algorithm directed the seven teenagers to videos that promoted suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders. The families are collectively pursuing legal action at the Créteil judicial court. Boutron-Marmion noted that this is the first such joint case in Europe.
"The parents aim to have TikTok's legal liability acknowledged in court," she stated, further explaining, "This is a commercial enterprise providing a service to consumers, who are also minors. Consequently, they must address the deficiencies in their product." TikTok, along with other social media platforms, has been under scrutiny for its content moderation practices.
Similar to Meta's Facebook and Instagram, TikTok faces numerous lawsuits in the U.S., accusing the platforms of luring and addicting millions of children, thereby harming their mental health. TikTok has not yet responded to the allegations. The company has previously expressed its serious commitment to addressing issues related to children's mental health. CEO Shou Zi Chew informed U.S. lawmakers this year that the company has invested in protective measures for young users of the app.
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