PARIS, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Seven French families have

filed a lawsuit against social media giant TikTok, accusing the

platform of exposing their adolescent children to harmful

content that led to two of them taking their own lives at 15,

their lawyer said on Monday.

The lawsuit alleges TikTok's algorithm exposed the seven

teenagers to videos promoting suicide, self-harm and eating

disorders, lawyer Laure Boutron-Marmion told broadcaster

franceinfo.

The families are taking joint legal action in the Créteil

judicial court. Boutron-Marmion said it was the first such

grouped case in Europe.

"The parents want TikTok's legal liability to be recognised

in court", she said, adding: "This is a commercial company

offering a product to consumers who are, in addition, minors.

They must, therefore, answer for the product's shortcomings."

TikTok, like other social media platforms, has long faced

scrutiny over the policing of content on its app.

As with Meta's Facebook and Instagram, it faces

hundreds of lawsuits in the U.S. accusing them of enticing and

addicting millions of children to their platforms, damaging

their mental health.

TikTok could not immediately be reached for comment on the

allegations.

The company has previously said it took issues that were

linked to children's mental health seriously. CEO Shou Zi Chew

this year told U.S. lawmakers the company has invested in

measures to protect young people who use the app.