Brussels, Belgium – The European Commission has taken aim at TikTok, preliminarily finding the social media giant in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA) due to concerns over its addictive design and potential harm to users, particularly minors. The investigation, spanning two years, centers on features like infinite scroll, autoplay, and personalized recommendations, which regulators believe contribute to compulsive use.
The Commission’s findings, announced on , suggest TikTok failed to adequately assess the risks associated with these features and implement effective mitigation measures. According to the Commission, the platform’s design fuels a constant urge to scroll, potentially shifting users into an “autopilot mode” and reducing self-control. This assessment aligns with scientific research highlighting the potential for compulsive behavior linked to such design elements.
“The Digital Services Act makes platforms responsible for the effects they can have on their users,” stated EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen, emphasizing the Commission’s commitment to enforcing online safety regulations. The DSA, a sweeping rulebook for social media companies, requires platforms to protect users and clean up their platforms, with the threat of substantial fines for non-compliance.
Specifically, the Commission highlighted shortcomings in TikTok’s existing screen time management and parental control tools. These tools, regulators argue, are easily dismissed or require significant effort from parents to implement effectively, rendering them insufficient in reducing the risks stemming from the app’s addictive design. The Commission believes fundamental changes to TikTok’s service design are necessary, potentially including disabling infinite scroll over time and implementing more effective screen time breaks, particularly during nighttime hours. Adjustments to the platform’s recommender system are also under consideration.
The potential financial consequences for TikTok are significant. The company faces potential fines of up to 6% of its total global annual turnover, a figure estimated to be in the tens of billions of dollars. This represents a substantial risk for ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company.
TikTok has vehemently denied the accusations, calling the Commission’s findings “categorically false and entirely meritless.” The company stated its intention to challenge the findings through all available means. However, the preliminary nature of the Commission’s assessment suggests a lengthy legal battle may lie ahead.
The investigation focused on how TikTok’s features impact the physical and mental wellbeing of users, with a particular emphasis on minors and “vulnerable adults.” Regulators noted that TikTok disregarded important indicators of compulsive use, such as the time minors spend on the app at night and the frequency with which users open it. This oversight, according to the Commission, demonstrates a failure to adequately assess the risks associated with its platform.
Professor Sonia Livingstone at the London School of Economics noted that while TikTok has introduced some tools to improve online safety, they are not sufficient to meet the standards set by the EU. This suggests that merely adding features is unlikely to resolve the core issue of addictive design.
The case sets a precedent for the enforcement of the DSA and signals a broader regulatory crackdown on social media platforms. The EU’s action underscores a growing concern among policymakers about the potential harms of addictive online experiences, particularly for young people. The outcome of this case will likely influence how other platforms design their services and manage user engagement in the European Union.
The Commission has invited TikTok to respond to the preliminary findings. Following this response, the Commission will determine the next steps, which could include formal charges and significant financial penalties. The situation remains fluid, but the EU’s stance is clear: platforms must prioritize user safety and wellbeing over maximizing engagement at all costs.
This investigation began in , highlighting the extensive scrutiny TikTok has faced from European regulators. The preliminary findings represent a significant escalation in that scrutiny and could reshape the future of the platform in Europe.
