“Death Propaganda”: TikTok and Other Social Media Platforms Under Scrutiny for Teen Mental Health Impact

French authorities have opened an official investigation into TikTok amid rising fears that the app’s algorithms and weak moderation contribute to psychological harm among young users. Prosecutor Laure Beccuau warned that the platform may serve as a “trigger” in suicide-related cases, as vulnerable teens are exposed to harmful content within minutes of use.

The Paris cybercrime unit is now examining whether TikTok violated laws prohibiting “promotion of methods facilitating suicide,” which in France can carry up to three years in prison.

According to France’s Public Health Agency, around 12% of adolescents aged 11–17 have experienced suicidal thoughts. Researchers from the University of Oxford reported that 38% of teenagers feel emotionally worse after spending more than three hours a day on TikTok.

This concern, however, is not limited to one platform. Studies by the Pew Research Center show that 59% of teens use Instagram daily and 67% of them say they often encounter unrealistic beauty standards and comparison-driven anxiety. On Snapchat, over 45% of users admit to experiencing “fear of missing out” (FOMO) after prolonged use.

A recent Syracuse University study revealed that more than 40% of ADHD-related videos on TikTok contained false or misleading information, distorting medical understanding and increasing self-diagnosis among students. Similar trends have been found on YouTube and Instagram Reels, where algorithms prioritize emotional and sensational content over accuracy.

Experts argue that all major platforms — from TikTok to Instagram and YouTube — share one systemic issue: recommendation algorithms amplify what holds attention, not what is healthy. Without global regulation, social media continues to shape young minds with invisible influence, blurring the line between entertainment and psychological manipulation.