A French parliamentary commission has recommended banning social media for children under 15 and implementing an overnight 'digital curfew' for 15-18 year olds, citing concerns over TikTok's impact on minors' mental health.

The investigation, which lasted six months, includes testimonies from parents of children who self-harmed or took their own lives after exposure to harmful online content, highlighting the platform's dangerous influence.

TikTok's executives are accused of active complicity and possibly perjury, as they claimed ignorance of the harmful effects, despite evidence of the platform's role in worsening mental health among youth.

Several EU countries, including France, Spain, and Greece, are urging Brussels to tighten regulations on online platforms to combat issues like addiction, cyberbullying, and hate speech among children.

This push for stricter regulation is part of a broader European effort, which includes recent actions like Europe's massive fine on Google for antitrust violations and increased calls for parental controls on AI tools.

The European Commission is supporting measures such as the upcoming EU Digital Fairness Act, which aims to impose stricter obligations on social media platforms, including content moderation and algorithm transparency.

While the European Commission advocates for implementing age verification systems at registration to protect minors, technical challenges, platform reluctance, and privacy concerns continue to hinder these efforts.

European leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen, are considering tighter social media restrictions at the EU level, but some countries like France prefer immediate national actions to regulate harmful content and algorithms.

France is actively investigating social media platforms like Kick for livestreaming negligence and the death of a streamer during a broadcast, reflecting increasing legal scrutiny.

The report, published on September 11, 2025, underscores the urgent need for regulatory measures to protect young people's mental health from the harmful effects of social media.

Testimonies from parents and mental health advocates describe TikTok as a 'dopamine slot machine' that is highly addictive and dangerous for vulnerable youth, with some children engaging in self-harm or attempting suicide after exposure to harmful content.

In the United States, TikTok faces legal scrutiny, with President Trump allowing its operation despite a law requiring its sale, and accusations of being a tool for Russian influence, notably in Romania's 2024 presidential election.