PARIS, Nov 10: Seven French families have filed a lawsuit against TikTok claiming that the platform led their children to commit suicide.
The families alleged that the platform exposed their teenage children to harmful content due to which they died by suicide at age 15, the lawyer of the families said.
The suit claims TikTok’s algorithm pushed videos promoting suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders to adolescents, according to franceinfo.
First Collective Lawsuit Against TikTok
The joint legal action, filed in the Créteil judicial court, is reportedly the first collective case of its kind in Europe.
Boutron-Marmion stated the parents’ aim was to hold TikTok legally accountable as a commercial entity providing harmful content to minors that led them to self-harm.
Lawyer’s Statement
The lawyer states that “the parents want TikTok’s legal liability to be recognized in court”
“This is a commercial company offering a product to consumers who are, in addition, minors. They must, therefore, answer for the product’s shortcomings,” she said.
TikTok Facing Scrutiny
Like other social media companies, TikTok has faced increased scrutiny over its content moderation practices.
Similar to Meta (formerly Facebook), TikTok faces multiple lawsuits in the U.S. alleging the platform’s addictive nature is damaging to young users’ mental health.
TikTok Responds With Negative
A TikTok spokesperson has rejected the claims as “inaccurate and misleading,” emphasizing that the company takes youth mental health concerns seriously.
“We strongly disagree with these claims, many of which we believe to be inaccurate and misleading,” the spokesperson said.
