The lawsuit, filed in Créteil court, marks Europe’s first collective case of its kind against the social media giant.
The families claim TikTok’s algorithm deliberately exposed their children, including two 15-year-olds who died, to dangerous content promoting suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders.
Their attorney, Laure Boutron-Marmion, argues that as a commercial entity marketing to minors, TikTok must be held accountable for its product’s defects.
“This is a commercial company offering a product to consumers who are, in addition, minors. They must, therefore, answer for the product’s shortcomings,” Boutron-Marmion said.
This legal challenge joins similar lawsuits in the US targeting major platforms like Tiktok. They collectively accuse social media companies of deliberately addicting young users while disregarding the psychological consequences.
TikTok has previously stated it takes youth mental health concerns seriously. CEO Shou Zi Chew testified before US Congress about the company’s investments in protective measures for young users. However, the platform has faced persistent criticism over its content moderation practices.
The French lawsuit could set a significant precedent for how European courts address social media companies’ obligations to protect young users.
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