EU Issues Ultimatum to TikTok Over Addictive Features
The European Union has delivered a stern warning to TikTok, demanding the popular social media platform overhaul its "addictive design" or face massive financial penalties under the bloc's stringent digital regulations. This move follows a comprehensive two-year investigation into the Chinese-owned app's practices.
Investigation Uncovers Systemic Issues
EU officials concluded that TikTok has failed to adequately protect users, particularly children and young people, from features engineered to promote compulsive usage. The investigation, which began in February 2024, represents the first formal probe launched against TikTok under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA).
Regulators identified several problematic design elements, including:
- Infinite scrolling mechanisms
- Autoplay functionality for videos
- Persistent push notifications
- Personalized recommendation algorithms
These features, according to the European Commission, "fuel the urge to keep scrolling" and pose potential harm to the physical and mental wellbeing of users, with minors and vulnerable adults being especially at risk.
Specific Concerns About Youth Protection
The commission's findings were particularly critical of TikTok's approach to safeguarding younger audiences. Officials accused the platform of ignoring clear warning signs of compulsive use, such as excessive late-night app usage by children. Furthermore, existing screen-time management tools were deemed "easy to dismiss" even for young users, while parental controls were criticized for being overly complex and requiring significant technical knowledge.
EU Tech Chief Henna Virkkunen emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating: "TikTok has to take actions, they have to change the design of their service in Europe to protect our minors and their wellbeing."
Required Changes and Potential Consequences
To avoid substantial fines, TikTok must implement specific design modifications in European markets. The commission's recommendations include:
- Limiting or eliminating infinite scroll features
- Introducing mandatory screen-time breaks, particularly during nighttime hours
- Revamping recommendation algorithms to reduce compulsive usage patterns
Virkkunen articulated a vision for "safe by design" social media platforms, suggesting that properly engineered services should eliminate the need for extreme age restrictions. "Social media should be so safe by design that we shouldn't have that kind of very high age restriction," she explained.
Broader Context and Next Steps
This regulatory action occurs amidst growing European debates about restricting social media access for teenagers. Several member states are considering national measures, while EU officials contemplate whether tougher, bloc-wide regulations are necessary.
TikTok now has the opportunity to review the EU's evidence and present its defense. Should regulators confirm their preliminary findings, the company could face penalties amounting to 6% of its global annual revenue—a potentially colossal sum given TikTok's substantial worldwide turnover.
While EU officials noted TikTok's cooperation during the investigation, this did not shield the platform from sharp criticism regarding its design choices and their impact on vulnerable users. The outcome of this case could establish important precedents for how digital platforms operate within the European Union's jurisdiction.
