EU orders TikTok to curb 'addictive design' under new safety rules
EU orders TikTok to curb 'addictive design' under new safety rules
EU regulators press TikTok to change its design to curb compulsive use, signaling potential changes to infinite scroll and safety tools.
EU regulators have issued a preliminary ruling that TikTok breaches the Digital Services Act by using an addictive design that keeps users scrolling. The commission warned that the app's design and constant content rewards push many users, especially children and vulnerable adults, into autopilot mode, undermining self-control. Regulators pointed to indicators such as late-night usage among children as evidence that the platform has not adequately assessed the harm its interface may cause.
Among the remedies considered are hard steps like disabling key addictive features such as infinite scroll over time, introducing more meaningful screen-time breaks, and recalibrating the recommender system to reduce overexposure to viral content. They also flagged the current screentime management tools and parental controls as insufficient—too easy to dismiss or too onerous to set up—though the investigation is far from over.
TikTok says the charges are false, and that it will challenge the findings and take necessary steps to protect users' wellbeing. The company emphasised its safety tools and user controls and defended its approach to content moderation.
The Commission stressed that this is a preliminary view and the outcome will depend on the ongoing investigation, with potential requirements to alter the app's basic design if the concerns are confirmed. The case signals a broader push by regulators in Brussels to ensure online services prioritize user welfare alongside growth.
Experts say the ruling could set a precedent for other platforms and could accelerate changes in how digital products are designed and regulated in the EU.
