French prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into TikTok following allegations that the social media platform promotes suicide-related content and that its algorithms may endanger vulnerable young users by amplifying such material.

The Paris prosecutor’s office announced that the probe will focus on “content consisting notably of the promotion of suicide” and on whether TikTok has complied with its legal obligation to report illegal activities facilitated through its platform. The investigation is being conducted by the Paris police cybercrime brigade.

According to the prosecutor’s office, possible charges under consideration include “propaganda for products or methods used to take one’s life” and facilitating illicit transactions linked to organized crime. If the investigation leads to formal charges and convictions, those involved could face several years in prison and significant fines.

The investigation follows multiple lawsuits filed by French families, a parliamentary inquiry into TikTok’s psychological impact on children, and reports from Amnesty International and the French Senate highlighting similar concerns about the platform’s effect on youth mental health.

TikTok, in a statement issued Tuesday, rejected the claims, asserting that the company invests heavily in user safety and moderation.

“With more than 50 pre-set features and settings designed specifically to support the safety and well-being of teens, and nine in ten violative videos removed before they’re ever viewed, we invest heavily in safe and age-appropriate teen experiences,” the company said.

The controversy intensified after seven French families filed lawsuits last year against TikTok France, accusing it of failing to moderate harmful content and of exposing minors to videos promoting self-harm and suicide. Two of the families involved in the case lost their children.

One of the victims, 15-year-old Marie Le Tiec, was found to have been repeatedly exposed to videos encouraging suicide methods and self-harm. Her mother, Stephanie Mistre, told reporters that TikTok’s algorithm had “normalised depression and self-harm, turning it into a twisted sense of belonging.”

The lawsuit has added to growing global scrutiny of social media companies accused of enabling harmful content targeting young users. Platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat have faced criticism from parents, lawmakers, and child safety advocates for allegedly fostering online environments that contribute to anxiety, self-harm, and suicide among teenagers.

The French parliamentary commission investigating the issue is expected to issue additional recommendations on regulating social media platforms later this year, as concerns mount over the mental health effects of algorithm-driven content on young people. (ILKHA)