French children under 15 should be banned from social media and there should be an overnight 'digital curfew' for 15-18 year olds, a parliamentary commission has recommended.
The six-month inquiry into the psychological effects of TikTok on minors has found that the short video-sharing platform 'knowingly exposes our children, our young people to toxic, dangerous and addictive content'.
'We must force TikTok to rethink its model,' says the commission, which heard testimony from teenagers and the families of young victims.
TikTok responded saying it categorically rejected the commission's 'misleading characterisation of our platform' which sought to 'scapegoat our company on industry-wide and societal challenges'.
TikTok has an ongoing robust trust and safety programme with over 70 features and settings designed specifically to support the safety and well-being of teens and families. However, the French commission described it as one of the worst social media platforms, calling it 'a production line of distress' for young people.
The recommendations come amidst a broader movement across Europe, with countries like Denmark and Spain also considering restrictions on social media access for children. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is monitoring the situation closely.
Following testimonies from grieving families regarding tragedies linked to TikTok exposure, the inquiry also proposes penalties for parents who fail to protect their children from harmful digital content.
Lead inquiry author Laure Miller asserted that parents must be held accountable when their children's digital safety is compromised. The next steps for the inquiry will involve legal implications against TikTok that may follow, depending on findings presented to the Paris public prosecutor.
