French families are filing a lawsuit against TikTok for exposing teenagers to harmful content

Seven French families have sued TikTok, claiming the platform exposed their teenage children to dangerous content, with two of the teens tragically committing suicide at the age of 15. This legal action, filed in the Court of Créteil, marks the first class action lawsuit of its kind in Europe. Lawyer Laure Boutron-Marmion, who represents the families, stated that TikTok’s algorithm would have exposed these adolescents to harmful material that promotes suicide, self-harm and eating disorders, potentially contributing to a mental health crisis among young users.

The families want to hold TikTok legally liable for its impact on young, vulnerable users. According to Boutron-Marmion, “the parents want TikTok’s legal liability to be recognized by the court.” She emphasized that TikTok is a commercial entity that provides a service to young consumers, most of whom are minors, and should therefore be held responsible for any harm resulting from the content the algorithm promotes.

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Longstanding criticism

TikTok, like other social media platforms, has faced widespread criticism over its ability to regulate harmful content, especially regarding the mental health of minors. Similar legal challenges have been raised in the United States against platforms like Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, with hundreds of lawsuits accusing these platforms of promoting 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, highlighting that the company has implemented several security measures to protect younger users on the platform. TikTok claims that these measures are part of its broader commitment to creating a safer online environment. However, the French lawsuit shows that some parents believe more should be done to protect young people from potentially harmful content on the app.