Stephanie Mistre, a grieving mother from Cassis, France, has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, accusing the platform of exposing her 15-year-old daughter, Marie, to harmful content that contributed to her suicide in 2021. Six other families have joined the legal action, which alleges TikTok’s algorithm promotes dangerous material to vulnerable users for profit.
After Marie’s death, Mistre discovered her daughter’s TikTok feed was filled with videos normalizing self-harm and suicide, including tutorials and comments encouraging such behavior. Mistre described the app’s influence as “brainwashing” and blames the platform for trapping her daughter in a cycle of despair.
TikTok denies the allegations, stating that its guidelines prohibit suicide promotion and that it employs 40,000 safety professionals to moderate content. The company also directs users searching for sensitive topics to mental health resources.
Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, underscored how TikTok algorithms rapidly expose young users to harmful content, with a 2022 study finding that such material appeared within minutes of account creation.
The lawsuit also draws attention to disparities in content moderation. TikTok’s Chinese version, Douyin, enforces stricter rules for minors, including mandatory “youth mode” and screen time limits. Lawyer Laure Boutron-Marmion, representing the families, said this contrast underscores TikTok’s ability to implement stronger safeguards but questioned its commitment outside China.
In addition to suing TikTok, Mistre has filed a complaint against five of Marie’s classmates and her former high school, alleging bullying as a contributing factor. Mistre’s fight for accountability comes amid growing international scrutiny of social media’s impact on youth. Similar lawsuits in the U.S. accuse major platforms of causing psychological harm, and Australia recently banned social media accounts for children under 16.
Psychologist Grégoire Borst cautions that social media is not solely to blame, as teenagers facing bullying or family challenges are more vulnerable. Still, Mistre insists the platforms must act. “Parents must know the truth,” she said, vowing to fight in her daughter’s memory. Authorities are expected to address the lawsuit against TikTok Limited Technologies in early 2025.
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