A lawsuit has been filed against TikTok in France following the tragic suicides of two 15-year-olds who were reportedly exposed to harmful content on the platform. This legal action highlights ongoing concerns about the inadequate content moderation practices of social media companies, which have faced significant criticism for failing to effectively police the material available to users.

Seven families from France have initiated a lawsuit against TikTok, claiming that the social media platform exposed their children to harmful content, which contributed to the tragic suicides of two teenagers, both aged 15, according to their lawyer.

The lawsuit contends that TikTok's algorithm directed the young users to videos that promoted suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders. Laure Boutron-Marmion, the lawyer representing the families, stated that this case is the first of its kind in Europe involving multiple plaintiffs.

"The parents are seeking to have TikTok's legal responsibility acknowledged in court," Boutron-Marmion informed the broadcaster franceinfo. "As a commercial entity providing a product to consumers, including minors, they must be held accountable for the deficiencies in their product."

TikTok has been under ongoing scrutiny regarding its content moderation practices, similar to other social media platforms. Although the company was unavailable for comment, it has previously asserted its commitment to addressing issues related to children's mental health.