France’s parliament launched a nationwide online consultation on Wednesday to gauge public opinion on the use and potential psychological effects of the social media platform TikTok.
The National Assembly’s online survey, which is open until May 31, asks participants to answer questions such as "Do you find it difficult not to use TikTok?" or "To what extent do you think content on the following platforms is sufficiently moderated?"
The purpose of the survey is to "consult French adults and minors (directly or through their parents) about their use and perceptions of social networks, and TikTok in particular," according to the official announcement.
The findings of the consultation will inform a parliamentary commission probing into the consequences of the platform, which is owned by the Chinese company Bytedance and is popular with young users.
Around 40 per cent of the French users aged between 11 and 17 use TikTok daily.
Harmful and addictive content
Laure Miller, an MP from President Emmanuel Macron’s political party Renaissance, qualified the initiative as "a unique opportunity to contribute to the work of the commission" in a post on social media platform X.
Miller is also the rapporteur of the commission launched in March to investigate TikTok’s audience, the impact of the platform, and its moderation.
The commission has already started to interview researchers, journalists, youth advocacy groups, members of the government, and TikTok content creators. Representatives of the platform are expected to be heard in the following month.
The commission is required to publish its conclusions in September at the latest.
In November 2024, seven French families took legal action against TikTok over "harmful content," "addictive" content, and insufficient moderation that allegedly led to "direct damage" to young people's health, with two young users having committed suicide.
Four additional families joined the action last month, according to French media.
