French National Assembly to Create Inquiry Commission on Psychological Effects of TikTok on Minors
The commission aims to investigate the controversial social media platform's impact on the mental health of children and adolescents in France.
The French National Assembly is expected to approve the establishment of an inquiry commission on the psychological effects of TikTok on children and adolescents in the coming days.
The resolution, introduced by Macronist MP Laure Miller, aims to address concerns about the platform's influence, particularly as it remains highly popular among the youth demographic in France.
The inquiry seeks to answer pressing questions surrounding TikTok, including whether it promotes videos related to suicide among young users, encourages self-harm behaviors, or amplifies hyper-sexualized content that distorts adolescents' body image and potentially leads to eating disorders.
Following a unanimous vote last week in the Committee on Social Affairs, approval in the general assembly is anticipated.
Once established, the commission will consist of thirty deputies tasked with studying TikTok's algorithm, which is said to 'trap' users in 'filter bubbles,' as well as assessing the app's psychological repercussions on young people over a six-month period.
A global study conducted by Qustodio found that in 2022, minors spent an average of 1 hour and 47 minutes daily on TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance.
Despite the platform's theoretical age restriction, statistics from Arcom indicate that nearly half of children aged 11 to 12 years are registered on the service.
The commission will pay special attention to evaluating the app's impact on suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
In late November, a collective of seven families in France initiated legal action against TikTok, alleging that the platform exposed their children to potentially suicidal content.
While the commission cannot investigate ongoing legal matters, it will explore whether the app offers more dangerous content to vulnerable users.
Research from 2022 indicated that American youth users exhibiting signs of emotional distress received an average of twelve times more videos about suicide and self-harm.
If a 'direct and undeniable link' is established between TikTok and a deterioration in mental health among youth, the legislative body may consider stronger regulatory actions, as noted by Laure Miller.
The commission will explore the legal frameworks available to French legislators to take concrete action regarding social media platforms.
In response to increasing scrutiny, several countries have taken robust measures against social media deemed harmful to youth.
Albania plans to block TikTok for at least a year, while Australia's Parliament recently passed a law prohibiting access to social media for individuals under the age of sixteen.
Additionally, Venezuela imposed a ten-million-dollar fine on TikTok for negligence following the deaths of three adolescents.
On Tuesday, TikTok introduced a new feature in France and the European Union that enables parents to set limits on the time their adolescents spend on the app.
Regarding the inquiry commission, TikTok stated it is eager to understand the specific issues under investigation.
The company emphasized that the themes raised by the commission are not exclusive to TikTok, highlighting its employment of over 500 French-speaking moderators and more than 6,000 moderators for European languages.
TikTok reported that between July and September 2024, moderation efforts resulted in the removal of over 24 million accounts globally suspected of belonging to users under thirteen years old.
The resolution, introduced by Macronist MP Laure Miller, aims to address concerns about the platform's influence, particularly as it remains highly popular among the youth demographic in France.
The inquiry seeks to answer pressing questions surrounding TikTok, including whether it promotes videos related to suicide among young users, encourages self-harm behaviors, or amplifies hyper-sexualized content that distorts adolescents' body image and potentially leads to eating disorders.
Following a unanimous vote last week in the Committee on Social Affairs, approval in the general assembly is anticipated.
Once established, the commission will consist of thirty deputies tasked with studying TikTok's algorithm, which is said to 'trap' users in 'filter bubbles,' as well as assessing the app's psychological repercussions on young people over a six-month period.
A global study conducted by Qustodio found that in 2022, minors spent an average of 1 hour and 47 minutes daily on TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance.
Despite the platform's theoretical age restriction, statistics from Arcom indicate that nearly half of children aged 11 to 12 years are registered on the service.
The commission will pay special attention to evaluating the app's impact on suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
In late November, a collective of seven families in France initiated legal action against TikTok, alleging that the platform exposed their children to potentially suicidal content.
While the commission cannot investigate ongoing legal matters, it will explore whether the app offers more dangerous content to vulnerable users.
Research from 2022 indicated that American youth users exhibiting signs of emotional distress received an average of twelve times more videos about suicide and self-harm.
If a 'direct and undeniable link' is established between TikTok and a deterioration in mental health among youth, the legislative body may consider stronger regulatory actions, as noted by Laure Miller.
The commission will explore the legal frameworks available to French legislators to take concrete action regarding social media platforms.
In response to increasing scrutiny, several countries have taken robust measures against social media deemed harmful to youth.
Albania plans to block TikTok for at least a year, while Australia's Parliament recently passed a law prohibiting access to social media for individuals under the age of sixteen.
Additionally, Venezuela imposed a ten-million-dollar fine on TikTok for negligence following the deaths of three adolescents.
On Tuesday, TikTok introduced a new feature in France and the European Union that enables parents to set limits on the time their adolescents spend on the app.
Regarding the inquiry commission, TikTok stated it is eager to understand the specific issues under investigation.
The company emphasized that the themes raised by the commission are not exclusive to TikTok, highlighting its employment of over 500 French-speaking moderators and more than 6,000 moderators for European languages.
TikTok reported that between July and September 2024, moderation efforts resulted in the removal of over 24 million accounts globally suspected of belonging to users under thirteen years old.
