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TikTok has been accused of violating EU online content regulations, which regulate addictive features on digital platforms. The European Union’s regulatory authority has urged TikTok to redesign its app or face potential fines of up to 6% of ByteDance’s worldwide revenue. The core issue revolves around TikTok’s use of addictive features, including infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and a highly personalized recommendation system.
The EU investigation, conducted over the course of a year under the Digital Services Act, focused on how these features encourage compulsive usage without adequately considering their impact on the mental and physical health of users, especially children and vulnerable adults. The regulator criticized TikTok for insufficiently evaluating the potential harm caused by these features and for failing to implement effective measures, such as screen time controls and parental supervision tools.
Officials have specified that TikTok should phase out its infinite scrolling feature, establish enforced breaks in usage, particularly during nighttime hours, and overhaul its recommendation algorithms to reduce addictive tendencies. EU tech regulator Henna Virkkunen emphasized that TikTok needs to modify its design in Europe to safeguard minors, adding that future investigations into other digital platforms are progressing, with more decisions expected soon.
In response, TikTok dismissed the charges as false and unfounded, stating they would contest the findings. The move is part of a broader EU effort to regulate Big Tech behavior, putting pressure on companies like Meta, YouTube, Snapchat, Apple, and Google to improve their age verification systems and limit minors’ access to harmful content. Several European countries, along with India and Australia, are considering or have already implemented restrictions on social media access for minors, reflecting growing global concern about the addictive nature of these platforms.
While individual countries retain the authority to set their own age limits, the EU advocates for a harmonized approach to digital regulation across member states. EU lawmakers, including Alexandra Geese, have praised the regulatory action against TikTok, describing the exploitation of addictive design features as detrimental to youth health and calling for urgent reforms. TikTok has been granted the opportunity to review the official documents and respond in writing before any formal decisions are made.
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