Seven French families have filed a lawsuit against TikTok, alleging that the platform exposed their teenagers to harmful content, which contributed to the suicides of two 15-year-olds, according to local reporting.
The lawsuit, filed in the Créteil judicial court, claims TikTok's algorithm promoted videos about suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders to the adolescents.
According to lawyer Laure Boutron-Marmion, cited by Reuters, this is the first case of its kind in Europe, with parents seeking to hold TikTok legally accountable.
Similar to other social media platforms, TikTok faces scrutiny for content moderation and has faced multiple US lawsuits over the effects of its platform on youth mental health.
TikTok has stated it prioritises safety and invests in protecting young users.