Amnesty International reports TikTok algorithm amplifies harmful content exposure to French youth
Amnesty International published a report alleging that TikTok's algorithm amplifies exposure to harmful content about mental health distress among French adolescents. The organization filed a complaint with French regulator Arcom under the Digital Services Act, claiming the algorithm violates obligations to protect minors.
What happened
Amnesty International France published a report alleging that TikTok's algorithm creates a 'spiral effect' that exposes adolescent users to harmful content. According to the report, when test profiles of 13-year-old users showed interest in content related to sadness or psychological distress, the algorithm directed them within 15 to 20 minutes almost exclusively toward videos about mental health, with approximately half concerning suicide or self-harm.
Reported impact
Amnesty International claimed that the algorithm normalizes, trivializes, or idealizes depression, self-harm, or suicide among young users. The organization alleged that adolescents manifesting interest in content related to sadness or psychological problems were directed to 'depressive content' in less than an hour.
Index analysis
Amnesty International conducted experiments in France in association with the Algorithmic Transparency Institute by creating three fake profiles of 13-year-old adolescents on TikTok and monitoring their personalized feed, called 'Pour toi' (For You), over several hours while viewing content about sadness or mental health problems.
Governance controls
Amnesty International France filed a complaint with Arcom under the Digital Services Act for alleged failures by TikTok to meet its obligations. In February 2024, the European Commission opened an investigation into TikTok for alleged failures to protect minors. TikTok responded that the experiment was designed to reach a predetermined result and did not reflect how real people use the platform.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.