This is a first in Europe according to the “Algos Victima” collective. Seven families sue TikTok in civil court before the Créteil judicial court, revealed this Monday franceinfo from consistent sources. United within the collective “Algos Victima”, these parents want to have recognition the responsibility of TikTok in the deterioration of the mental and physical health of their children. They believe that the social network committed a serious error in not moderating content related to suicide, self-harm or eating disorders. While in its charter, TikTok undertakes to “provide a safe and caring environment“, “to provide teens and families with tools and resources to help everyone on their digital wellness journey“.
Overwhelming testimonies
Among the seven teenagers concerned, two ended their lives. Charlize and Marie were then 15 years old. Mary's parents triggered criminal proceedings. They filed a complaint in September 2023 against TikTok pour “provocation to suicide“, “failure to assist a person in danger” et “propaganda or advertising of means of killing oneself“.
The parents of Charlize, who committed suicide in 2023believe for their part that its algorithm increased their daughter's discomfort. He has “captured the style of his research, and offered him other content, which was worse and worse, on depression, or even scarification. TikTok amplified her discomfort, by dint of flooding her with content that teenagers her age should never see“, explains Delphine, her mother.
Finally, Maele, now 17, has attempted suicide several times. Over the past two years, she has been hospitalized in child psychiatry in the Strasbourg region. The teenager discovered TikTok at 14, when she was the victim of school bullying. She liked on the platform of “content that talked about sad songs“. Then, videos “incitement to self-harm or suicide“were suggested to her,” she tells franceinfo. “TikTok encouraged me to end my life by giving tips on where to buy medicine or what to use to harm myself“, accuses Maele. The teenager confides that she was caught in a spiral. All these videos “revived the idea of wanting to harm me. It's a downward spiral“, she explains.
Contacted, TikTok did not respond to franceinfo’s requests.
