“The algorithm suggested worse and worse, on depression, or even scarifications”: Seven French families take TikTok to court, accusing it of promoting suicidal ideas

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, took the Chinese social network to court on Monday, November 4, France Info revealed this Monday.

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.

1.2 billion users worldwide

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 “providing a safe and caring environment” or “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.

Gear

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 picked up the style of his searches, and offered him other content, which was worse and worse, on depression, or even scarification,” she says. “TikTok has amplified his discomfort, by dint of filling him with content that teenagers his age should never see.”