Seven French families have filed a lawsuit against TikTok, accusing the platform of exposing their teenage children to harmful content that contributed to the suicides of two 15-year-olds, according to their lawyer.
The families claim TikTok’s algorithm showed their children videos promoting self-harm, suicide, and eating disorders, lawyer Laure Boutron-Marmion told franceinfo.
This joint legal action, brought to the Créteil judicial court, is reportedly the first of its kind in Europe.
“The parents want TikTok’s legal liability to be recognized in court,” said Boutron-Marmion, emphasizing that TikTok, as a commercial company providing a product to minors, must “answer for the product’s shortcomings.”
TikTok, like other social media giants such as Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, has faced extensive scrutiny over the mental health impact of its content on young users.
The platform has also encountered numerous lawsuits in the U.S., where companies are accused of luring children to their platforms and causing mental health harm.
TikTok did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
However, the company has previously said it takes mental health concerns seriously, with CEO Shou Zi Chew informing U.S. lawmakers this year that the platform has invested in measures to safeguard young users.
Source-CNN
