France Refers TikTok to Prosecutor, Proposes Under-15 Ban and 10pm-8am Teen Blackout - Ad Risks for Meta & Snap

A French parliamentary panel has handed a sharp accusation to the public prosecutor: the short-video app TikTok is being blamed for "endangering the lives" of young users. Arthur Delaporte, who chairs the committee set up earlier this year to examine the platform's impact on minors, said he has formally referred the matter to the Paris prosecutor's office on criminal grounds.

The committee's report, unveiled this week, lands hard. It concludes that the platform's practices put children's health and safety at risk - and Delaporte added that some testimony from company representatives amounted to perjury, saying executives had claimed ignorance of harmful content.

The inquiry traces back to a 2024 lawsuit from seven families alleging TikTok exposed their children to content that encouraged suicide. In response to the panel's recommendations, the report proposes sweeping limits: a full ban on social media for under-15s, and a nighttime blackout between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. for users aged 15-18.

TikTok hasn't issued an immediate reply to the referral. The company has previously said it takes children's mental health seriously, but that line hasn't eased political pressure in France. President Emmanuel Macron has pushed for EU-level rules restricting social-media access for under-15s, and the French move adds fuel to that push.

There are practical stakes for listed social-media firms. Tighter European rules on youth access, night-time usage limits, or stricter moderation standards would directly affect ad inventory, session length and user engagement metrics - the three ingredients advertisers buy. That's relevant for Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) and Snap Inc. (NYSE: SNAP), which already face regulatory scrutiny over data and youth safety in multiple markets.

Legal escalation is now in the hands of the prosecutor. If a criminal probe is opened, the case could widen regulatory ripples across Europe and sharpen compliance costs for platforms operating there. For the moment, the committee's referral is a legal escalation and a political statement - not a conviction.

One line stuck with me: Delaporte accusing company witnesses of not telling the whole truth. That's the sort of allegation that drags reporters and regulators into courtrooms and boardrooms - and occasionally moves share prices - even before formal charges appear. What happens next will depend on how aggressively French and EU authorities translate the committee's recommendations into enforceable rules.