EU Orders TikTok to Change Its Addictive Design
EU Orders TikTok to Change Its Addictive Design
EU regulators flag autoplay and endless scroll as risky, urging changes under the Digital Services Act to protect children and vulnerable users.
The European Union has levelled preliminary charges against TikTok, accusing the platform of breaching the Digital Services Act with addictive design features, including autoplay and infinite scroll. The Brussels-based regulator group says these features can drive compulsive use and may harm the mental and physical health of young users and other vulnerable groups. The investigation highlights concerns about how the app’s basic design could influence user behavior and safety online.
According to the commission, the findings suggest TikTok has not done enough to assess the potential harms caused by certain design choices and recommends changes to the service’s core design to curb risk. If TikTok does not adequately address these concerns, the bloc could issue a non-compliance decision, potentially resulting in fines of up to 6% of the company’s total annual revenue under the Digital Services Act. The commission has emphasized that platforms are responsible for the effects they can have on their users, especially children, and Europe will continue to enforce safeguards to protect online citizens.
TikTok has pushed back, calling the preliminary findings categorically false and meritless. The company said it will challenge the findings through all available means and noted that it will provide a response to the commission’s assessment. In parallel, the commissioner overseeing tech sovereignty and safety stressed that social media addiction can have detrimental effects on developing minds, underscoring Europe’s commitment to enforcing rules designed to shield young people and vulnerable adults from potential harm.
The next steps involve TikTok submitting a formal response to the preliminary findings, after which regulators will decide whether to pursue further enforcement actions. A non-compliance finding could bring substantial financial penalties and compel the platform to alter features that regulators view as contributing to addictive usage patterns. The case marks another high-profile test of the Digital Services Act as Europe asserts a tougher stance on how global tech firms design and operate their apps for safety.
