Seven French families against one of the most powerful social networks in the world: the Algos Victima collective, within which they have grouped together, accuses TikTok of exposing children to numerous videos promoting suicide, self-mutilation or even eating disorders. Their lawyer, Laure Boutron-Marmion, takes the Chinese social network to court on Monday, November 4.
This is a first in Europe according to the Algos Victima collective. The objective is to recognize the responsibility of the social network in the deterioration of the mental and physical health of these children. These are seven teenage girls. Two of them ended their lives when they were 15 years old. The parents of one of them, Marie, also filed a criminal complaint last year.
Four of the seven teenagers attempted to end their lives, and one last experienced problems with anorexia.
If they initiate this civil procedure before the Créteil judicial court, it is in the hope that the courts will recognize that TikTok committed a fault by allowing such content to circulate on its platform. They also want the social network to better regulate videos, so that minors are no longer bombarded, when they are unwell, with content that could advocate suicide.
It is indicated in the charter of the platform, used by more than 21 million users in France (and more than 1.2 billion worldwide), that the network is committed to “provide a safe and caring environment” or even “We are committed to providing teens and families with tools and resources to help everyone on their digital wellness journey.” And finally, “TikTok is a mobile application for short-form videos. It is a space for entertaining and positive content.”
However, the families all explain the same thing: their children, after watching content related to self-image, or even food, very quickly found themselves with a lot of violent content, some promoting self-harm, suicide or even eating disorders.
Delphine, mother of Charlize, explains that her daughter, a victim of harassment, took refuge on TikTok. The young girl became addicted to it and sought content related to her discomfort, which led her into a spiral.
“The algorithm captured the style of his searches, and offered him other content, which was worse and worse, on depression, or even scarification. TikTok amplified his discomfort, by dint of feeding him content that teenagers his age should never see.”
Delphine, mother of Charlizeat franceinfo
Jérémy, Charlize’s father, confirms: “Tiktok, the image I had of it was dance videos, or makeup tutorials, but at no time did I tell myself that there were going to be videos that would explain how to take apart a blade on a pencil sharpener to make scarifications. It seemed inconceivable to me.”
These seven families, represented by their lawyer Laure Boutron-Marmion, believe that TikTok committed serious misconduct: not having moderated content related to suicide, self-harm and eating disorders. They also criticize the platform for negligence, for not having put in place a moderation system preventing minors from being confronted with this type of content. These parents also do not understand why TikTok does not warn users about the addictive nature of its application. The teenagers have fallen, according to their families, into the trap of the application and its powerful algorithm.
These videos fueled their unease, they add, and led to the deterioration of their mental and physical health, with the suicide of two of them.
If you need help, if you are worried or if you are faced with the suicide of a member of your entourage, there are anonymous listening services. The Suicide listen line can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 01 45 39 40 00. Other information is also available on the Ministry of Health website.
