"David vs. Goliath Scenario": Parliamentary Investigation Panel Examines Impact of TikTok on Juveniles
In a bid to address growing concerns about the effects of TikTok on French minors' mental health, a parliamentary inquiry commission was launched in March 2025. The commission, presided by Arthur Delaporte (Socialists and Allies), is currently in session and will continue until mid-June.
The specific concerns revolve around digital addiction, exposure to harmful content, inadequate content moderation, and psychological harm. Internal TikTok communications have revealed that the app is designed to be addictive, with just 35 minutes of viewing (around 260 videos) enough to form a habit. This addiction negatively impacts teenagers’ dopamine pathways, leading to poor self-esteem, disrupted sleep, reduced attention spans, emotional apathy, and withdrawal from physical activities.
Moreover, despite age restrictions, many minors bypass controls and can encounter inappropriate or dangerous content. TikTok's algorithm prioritizes engagement over safety, often promoting emotionally charged content regardless of age-appropriateness, which can have lasting harmful effects on minors. The commission has highlighted failures in TikTok’s moderation, citing examples such as the persistence of disordered eating content and violent, sexist, or self-harm related videos remaining accessible even after being reported.
French MPs emphasize undeniable psychological effects on minors using TikTok, advocating for a precautionary principle to protect vulnerable children who may experience severe harm from the app’s impact. They reject the idea of sacrificing some children’s well-being based on the argument that others can handle the app safely.
The commission has gathered more than 30,000 public responses and heard from over 150 experts and stakeholders. Parliamentarians have publicly criticized TikTok for inadequate safety measures and regulatory compliance, exposing failures during hearings where TikTok executives were questioned about their platform’s impacts and moderation practices.
Ahead of releasing a detailed report in September 2025, the rapporteur Laure Miller and chair Arthur Delaporte have highlighted the need for stronger protections rooted in the precautionary approach to shield children from TikTok’s harmful effects. While TikTok has announced new initiatives to promote mental health education and well-being, French lawmakers remain skeptical and continue to push for stringent oversight and accountability in protecting minors from the platform’s detrimental influences.
The commission is optimistic about finding levers to protect the youngest users. Neurologists, psychiatrists, network and algorithm professionals, TikTokers, and representatives from the Arcom (Autorité de régulation de la communication audiovisuelle et numérique) and CNIL (National Commission on Informatics and Liberties) have been invited to speak. TikTok will also be invited to confront its leaders with what the commission has heard.
Laure Miller, who began her role as the rapporteur in April 2025, decided to study only the case of TikTok and not those of other networks because it is the most used by minors in France and has the most harmful effects. A group of around thirty French deputies started questioning professionals about the psychological effects of TikTok on minors on April 3, 2025. If the commission finds a legal lever, such as changing the qualification of the host to editor, a bill proposal may be submitted.
The hearings will end in June, after which the rapporteur, Laure Miller, will write recommendations for approval by the commission. The commission feels like it is in the position of David against Goliath, as TikTok seems all-powerful financially, but the deputies are showing radicality on this subject. If the focus is on regulatory action within the scope of Europe, lobbying work with the European Union may be necessary.
[1] https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/13/21065474/tiktok-addiction-dopamine-reward-system-app-design [2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54643125 [3] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54643125 [4] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54643125 [5] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54643125
- The parliamentary commission, led by Arthur Delaporte, is addressing concerns about TikTok's impact on French minors' mental health, including digital addiction, exposure to harmful content, inadequate content moderation, and psychological harm.
- French lawmakers have emphasized the need for a precautionary principle to protect minors from TikTok's harmful effects, highlighting failures in TikTok's moderation and criticizing the company for regulatory compliance.
- The commission has gathered over 30,000 public responses and heard from over 150 experts and stakeholders, including neurologists, psychiatrists, network and algorithm professionals, TikTokers, and representatives from Arcom and CNIL.
- Ahead of releasing a detailed report in September 2025, the commission is optimistic about finding levers to protect the youngest users and may propose regulatory action within the scope of Europe, potentially involving lobbying work with the European Union.
