The European Union is intensifying its scrutiny of TikTok, demanding the platform overhaul its design to mitigate addictive features and protect users, particularly children and young adults. The move, announced on , follows a two-year investigation launched under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) in .
Preliminary findings from the European Commission indicate that TikTok isn’t adequately addressing the potential harms stemming from design elements like infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and its highly personalized recommendation system. The Commission believes these features contribute to compulsive use and negatively impact the physical and mental well-being of users, especially minors.
“TikTok has to take actions, they have to change the design of their service in Europe to protect our minors and their well-being,” stated EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen to reporters. The Commission is pushing for specific changes, including addressing the uninterrupted nature of “infinite scroll,” implementing effective screen time breaks – particularly during nighttime hours – and refining the algorithms that drive content recommendations.
The DSA and the Focus on Addictive Design
The investigation into TikTok marks the first major test of the DSA, a comprehensive set of regulations designed to create a safer and more accountable online environment. The DSA requires large online platforms to actively combat illegal and harmful content, limit societal risks, and protect vulnerable users. Breaches of the DSA can result in substantial fines, potentially reaching up to 6% of a company’s global annual revenue.
The Commission’s concerns center on TikTok’s failure to adequately assess the risks associated with its addictive features. Specifically, the investigation highlighted a lack of sufficient evaluation regarding how these features could harm users’ mental and physical health. The findings also suggest TikTok hasn’t implemented robust measures to mitigate these risks, particularly concerning screen time management and parental control tools.
According to the Commission, TikTok’s existing time management tools are easily bypassed, even by younger users. Parental controls, while available, are described as requiring “additional time and skills from parents to introduce,” making them less accessible and effective for many families.
Beyond Design: Concerns About Compulsive Use
The EU’s investigation isn’t solely focused on the technical aspects of TikTok’s design. Regulators are also concerned about the platform’s apparent disregard for indicators of compulsive use, such as the amount of time children spend on the app late at night. This suggests a potential failure to recognize and address patterns of behavior that could be detrimental to user well-being.
The Commission’s findings echo broader concerns about the impact of social media on mental health, particularly among young people. The addictive nature of these platforms, driven by algorithms designed to maximize engagement, has been linked to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and body image issues.
TikTok’s Response and Ongoing Investigations
TikTok now has the opportunity to review the Commission’s findings and present a defense. If the Commission’s concerns are substantiated, the platform could face significant financial penalties.
This isn’t the only scrutiny TikTok is facing from EU regulators. In , the Commission launched a separate investigation into alleged foreign interference during the Romanian presidential elections. However, EU digital affairs spokesman Thomas Regnier noted that TikTok has been “extremely cooperative” with regulators during that investigation and has taken steps to address the Commission’s concerns. Regnier added that regulators will continue to monitor TikTok’s behavior during future elections.
The EU’s actions against TikTok reflect a growing global trend toward greater regulation of social media platforms. Several European countries are already considering measures to restrict access to social media for younger teenagers, and the Commission’s investigation could pave the way for similar regulations at the EU level. The ultimate goal, according to Virkkunen, is to create platforms that are “safe by design,” eliminating the need for strict age restrictions and ensuring a safe online experience for all users.
