The Paris prosecutor’s office has initiated an investigation into TikTok, following allegations that the platform facilitates the dissemination of content promoting suicide and that its algorithms may be influencing vulnerable young individuals towards self-harm. This development comes in the wake of a lawsuit filed by several French families, a parliamentary inquiry into TikTok’s psychological impact on children, and reports from Amnesty International and the French Senate highlighting similar concerns. The investigation will scrutinize content that promotes suicide and assess whether TikTok has complied with its obligations to report such violations to the authorities. TikTok has denied the allegations, emphasizing its commitment to teen safety through numerous pre-set features and the removal of 90% of violative videos before they are viewed. The Paris police cybercrime brigade will explore potential crimes, including the promotion of methods for self-harm and illicit transactions linked to organized crime. Convictions could result in significant prison sentences and fines. This case follows a lawsuit last year by seven French families, two of whom lost children, accusing TikTok of inadequate content moderation and exposing minors to harmful material. One mother, Stephanie Mistre, discovered that TikTok’s algorithm had repeatedly shown her deceased daughter, Marie Le Tiec, videos encouraging suicide. TikTok and other social media platforms are increasingly under global scrutiny for their role in inciting violence and bullying, particularly among younger users.