16 Families in France Sue TikTok, Accused of Causing Teen Mental Disorders

JAKARTA - A total of 16 families in France filed a class-action lawsuit against the short video platform TikTok with the Paris prosecutor's office on Monday, May 12.

Represented by lawyer Laure Boutron-Marmion, the plaintiffs accused TikTok of "abusing weaknesses" by exploiting the mental vulnerability of teenagers through algorithms on its platform.

As reported by Franceinfo, the families assessed that TikTok contributed to suicide cases and serious mental health disorders in minors.

"We are facing a machine designed and developed to exploit this vulnerability. TikTok creates a mental prison for teenagers, a prison full of suffering," said Boutron-Marmion.

He even likened the impact of TikTok to "digital crack", referring to the high level of addiction that the platform causes.

The lawsuit is aimed at TikTok executives in France and internationally. According to Boutron-Marmion, the company fully understands how their recommendation algorithm works.

"This is a highly personalized recommendation system and endless scrolling that triggers strong addiction and exploits the vulnerability of teenagers," he said.

He added that TikTok was aware of the impact of its platform on the mental health of young users, but said it had not taken adequate action.

Through the lawsuit, the families want to take TikTok to criminal court in France for alleged abuse of weaknesses, in addition to the current civil lawsuit process.

Even some of the families involved are said to have lost children due to suicide. Meanwhile, others reported cases of anorexia, depression, and even suicidal thoughts after intensive use of TikTok.

In addition to the legal action, the complaint also urges stricter social media regulation in France, including a proposal to ban the use of social media for children under the age of 15, which is currently being discussed by the local government.