Seven families in France have taken the social media platform TikTok to court, accusing it of exposing their teenage children to harmful content that, in two cases, allegedly contributed to the teens’ tragic suicides. The case, filed in the Créteil judicial court, underscores the negative impact of social media companies on young minds.
First reported by Reuters, the lawsuit contends that TikTok’s recommendation system exposed adolescents to a stream of content promoting self-harm, eating disorders, and suicidal ideation.
According to Laure Boutron-Marmion, the families’ lawyer, this exposure had a profound impact on the teenagers, with disastrous consequences in two cases where the teens took their own lives at the age of 15.
“The parents want TikTok’s legal liability to be recognised in court,” Bourton-Marmion said in a statement. “This is a commercial company offering a product to consumers who are, in addition, minors. They must, therefore, answer for the products’s shortcomings.”
This case marks the first time in Europe that multiple families have joined together to file a lawsuit against TikTok, raising it as a precedent-setting moment in the region. The action builds on a growing body of litigation against social media platforms, which have come under fire globally for allegedly fostering an environment harmful to young users’ mental health.
While similar lawsuits have been filed in the United States, this case signals an escalation in Europe’s efforts to hold tech companies accountable.
TikTok, known for its rapid and extensive reach, has faced scrutiny over the algorithms that drive its ‘For You’ page. This recommendation engine uses user data to surface personalised content. Critics allege that its algorithms sometimes promote controversial or harmful materials.
The allegations add to many criticisms aimed at TikTok and similar platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Other harmful impacts include cultivating addictive usage patterns and increased vulnerability to mental health issues among young users.
TikTok addressed some of these issues earlier this year, assuring United States lawmakers that the company has invested in measures to protect younger audiences. However, specific safeguards and their effectiveness remain under debate.
In August 2024, the US Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission (FTA) sued TikTok for violating child privacy laws based on a complaint it received in June.
In April, four Canadian school boards launched a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Meta, Snapchat, and ByteDance arguing that the platforms favour compulsive use and disrupt students’ education.
Big companies are also eying teenage data. Recently, reports revealed that Google and Meta entered a secret deal to share teenage information on YouTube.
In a first, a Florida mother sued Character AI, blaming the chatbot for her son’s suicide.
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