TikTok Under Fire: Growing Concerns Over Misinformation and Youth Safety

Several countries worldwide have already banned TikTok amid mounting concerns over Chinese espionage, public opinion manipulation, and violent content endangering young users. As the European Commission launches legal proceedings against the platform, France’s National Assembly is preparing to examine the creation of a board of inquiry to investigate TikTok’s psychological effects on minors, with particular focus on suicidal behavior and ideation.

Banned in the United States since January 2025, TikTok remains one of the world’s most influential social media platforms, boasting 1.5 billion active users globally and 15 million monthly users in France alone. According to Arcom (the French Regulatory Authority for Audiovisual and Digital Communication), half of French children aged 11-12 have TikTok accounts despite the platform’s minimum age requirement of 13.

The platform’s popularity among younger generations is reshaping their relationship with information and increasingly challenging traditional media outlets. Behind its viral challenges and popular videos, however, serious questions are emerging about TikTok’s role in spreading misinformation and its potential as a covert influence tool.

Research indicates that TikTok has become a significant vector for misinformation. A study conducted in early 2020 found that 20% to 32% of videos about COVID-19 on the platform contained false or misleading information. In 2022, an analysis by Newsguard confirmed these findings, showing that 20% of news videos on TikTok contained misleading content.

Unlike traditional media, where source verification and fact-checking are standard practice, TikTok relies on an opaque and highly personalized algorithm designed to maximize user engagement regardless of content reliability. Without proper information prioritization or content labeling, viral reach becomes the primary metric of success, regardless of factual accuracy.

The platform’s short-form video format, typically 15-60 seconds in length, creates unique challenges for critical thinking. This brevity leaves little room for contextualizing information, encouraging passive consumption without verification. In this environment, striking but false information often gains more credibility than detailed factual content.

TikTok’s endless scroll feature, where videos play continuously without interruption, further promotes passive consumption and limits opportunities for reflection or fact-checking. This dynamic enables computational propaganda—the use of algorithms, automation, and anonymity to manipulate public opinion through coordinated sharing that creates a false impression of popular support.

In May 2024, NGO Global Witness demonstrated TikTok’s inability to detect advertisements containing false information during election campaigns, despite an October 2024 moderation overhaul incorporating AI. The platform also employs sophisticated audio strategies that amplify emotional content, further facilitating the spread of misinformation.

Young people are particularly vulnerable to these dynamics. A Statista survey conducted between April 2023 and March 2024 found that 69% of French adults under 30 regularly use TikTok. Simultaneously, an Ifop study revealed that 69% of 18-24 year olds believe at least one scientific falsehood, highlighting significant challenges in information literacy.

TikTok’s algorithm intensifies the “filter bubble” effect, trapping users in information environments that reinforce existing beliefs—a phenomenon previously linked to youth radicalization on social media platforms. The platform has also hosted dangerous viral challenges, including the notorious “Blackout Challenge” (holding one’s breath until passing out) and “Skullbreaker Challenge” (tripping others to cause serious injuries).

Concerns about TikTok extend beyond misinformation to national security. In July 2023, a French Senate report warned about espionage and manipulation risks through data collection by ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company. A February 2025 Viginum report revealed that foreign actors had exploited the platform’s moderation weaknesses to influence Romania’s presidential election.

Countries restricting or banning TikTok typically cite three main concerns: national security and digital sovereignty (as in the US ban of January 2025 and India’s 2020 ban); preservation of cultural values (as in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, and Jordan); and protection of young users from violent content (as in Albania’s 2024 one-year ban and Somalia’s complete restriction).

In response to these concerns, France banned TikTok on government employees’ professional devices in March 2023, citing national security risks. Meanwhile, the European Union introduced the Digital Services Act (DSA), imposing greater transparency requirements on platforms regarding algorithms and data storage, with potential penalties of up to 6% of annual global sales for non-compliance.

In February 2024, the European Commission opened formal proceedings to assess whether TikTok had violated the DSA, particularly regarding minor protection and advertising transparency. While these proceedings could result in financial penalties, a complete ban in Europe would require complex political decisions beyond the DSA’s current scope.

As investigations continue, the European Union faces the challenge of balancing user protection—especially for younger demographics—with preserving digital freedoms in an increasingly complex information landscape.