French Families Sue TikTok Over Teen Suicides
In a heartbreaking case, Stephanie Mistre, a French mother, blames TikTok for the suicide of her 15-year-old daughter, Marie, who took her own life in September 2021. Mistre, along with six other families, is suing TikTok France, accusing the platform of exposing children to harmful content like suicide tutorials and violent material.
After her daughter’s death, Mistre found videos promoting suicide methods on Marie’s phone, repeatedly pushed by TikTok’s algorithm. Despite TikTok’s claims of strict guidelines against such content and employing 40,000 moderators globally, the families allege the app’s algorithm traps vulnerable users in cycles of despair for profit.
Marie’s struggles extended beyond TikTok, as her mother revealed she was bullied both online and at school. The family has also filed complaints against five classmates and Marie’s former high school for harassment.
Psychologists, however, caution against directly blaming social media for mental health crises. Grégoire Borst, a cognitive neuroscience professor, noted that studies show only a minimal link between social media use and teen well-being, with greater risks for teens already facing challenges like bullying or unstable home environments.
The lawsuit demands reparations and calls for stricter measures to regulate TikTok’s algorithm in France. Mistre’s fight for accountability highlights the need for parents to be aware of the potential dangers of social media and advocate for safer platforms for children.
Source: africanews