Seven French families are taking legal action against TikTok, accusing the platform of exposing young users to harmful content, including videos promoting suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders.
Filed Criminal Complaint
The lawsuit, spearheaded by the collective Algos Victima, seeks to hold TikTok accountable for the impact on these children's mental and physical health.
Their lawyer, Laure Boutron-Marmion, filed the complaint in a civil court in Créteil on Monday, November 4, as reported by L'Independent.
This case marks the first of its kind in Europe. The families, united under Algos Victima, aim to establish TikTok’s responsibility in the deterioration of these teens' health.
Among the seven teens affected, two took their own lives at age 15, and four others attempted suicide. Another teen suffered from severe anorexia.
The parents of one of the deceased, Marie, had already filed a criminal complaint last year, seeking justice.
Amplified Teens' Distress
The families argue that TikTok’s algorithms amplified these teens' distress by continuously suggesting harmful content.
The platform, which reaches over 21 million users in France and 1.2 billion worldwide, promises a "safe and positive environment" per its terms of service.
TikTok claims to offer "resources for digital well-being" to adolescents and families, and brands itself as a hub for "entertaining and positive content."
However, these parents report a different experience. After initially viewing content about self-image and wellness, their children were allegedly inundated with increasingly dark content, including videos that promoted self-harm and suicide.
Delphine, whose daughter Charlize sought refuge on TikTok after facing bullying, describes the app’s algorithm as a “trap.” Charlize’s searches for solace turned into an addictive cycle, as the algorithm picked up on her interests and recommended progressively harmful content.
