Three years ago, Stephanie Mistre's world was shattered when she found her 15-year-old daughter, Marie, lifeless in her bedroom after a suicide. Reflecting on the traumatic event, Mistre describes how everything changed in an instant, marking the beginning of her battle against TikTok, the app she believes contributed to her daughter's despair.

After Marie's death in September 2021, Mistre discovered disturbing videos on her daughter's phone, promoting suicide methods, tutorials, and comments encouraging users to take extreme actions. She claims TikTok's algorithm consistently pushed this harmful content to Marie. Mistre believes the app normalized depression and self-harm, turning it into a distorted sense of community.

Now, Mistre and six other families are suing TikTok France, accusing the platform of failing to remove harmful content and exposing children to life-threatening material. Two of the families lost children to suicide. Mistre's lawsuit also includes bullying claims, both online and at school.

TikTok, responding to the lawsuit, emphasized that its guidelines prohibit promoting suicide and that it employs 40,000 trust and safety professionals globally, including French-speaking moderators, to remove harmful content. The company also said it directs users who search for suicide-related content to mental health resources.

Marie, before her death, had made videos explaining her decision, referencing struggles in her life, and quoting an emo rap song by Suicideboys, popular on TikTok. Mistre believes TikTok played a significant role in her daughter's tragic end, arguing that the app exposed vulnerable teens to dangerous content, making it harder for them to distinguish what was real.

While scientists have not definitively linked social media use to mental health issues, experts agree that the real danger lies with teens who are already facing challenges like bullying or family problems. Studies suggest social media exposure can worsen their mental health.

The lawsuit, according to Mistre's lawyer, Laure Boutron-Marmion, is supported by solid evidence and seeks reparations from TikTok. The families argue that TikTok's algorithm deliberately traps vulnerable users in a cycle of despair for profit. Boutron-Marmion also pointed out that TikTok's Chinese version, Douyin, has stricter content controls for minors, proving the company can moderate content when it chooses to.

A report commissioned by French President Macron recommended banning addictive algorithm features and restricting social media access for minors under 15. However, these measures have yet to be implemented. Globally, TikTok is under scrutiny, with similar lawsuits in the US and Australia enacting laws to protect minors from social media harms. In France, the lawsuit against TikTok is expected to proceed in 2025.

TikTok responded by reiterating its commitment to removing harmful content but faced criticism for not doing enough to stop it from reaching vulnerable users. Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, argued that TikTok's moderation efforts are insufficient, pointing out that harmful content is often hidden using "algospeak"—a tactic that the app's algorithms struggle to detect.

For Mistre, this fight is personal. She has kept Marie's room unchanged, fighting to make other parents aware of the dangers of social media. Had she known the harmful content her daughter was exposed to, she would never have allowed her to use TikTok. "In memory of Marie, I will fight as long as I have the strength," she says. "Parents need to know the truth. We must confront these platforms and demand accountability."

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Business Standard