The European Commission has formally accused TikTok of intentionally designing its popular short-video app with "addictive" features, issuing preliminary findings that demand significant changes to protect user well-being. On Friday, the EU's executive arm called out features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and its recommendation engine, asserting they contribute to compulsive behavior among users, particularly minors and vulnerable adults.
EU Accusations and Demands
These accusations stem from a preliminary investigation into TikTok's compliance with the European Union’s comprehensive Digital Services Act (DSA). The Commission stated that the short-video platform failed to "adequately assess" how its design choices could harm the well-being of its users, especially young people and vulnerable adults.
The EU’s executive arm highlighted that TikTok disregarded "important indicators of compulsive use of the app," such as the time users spend on the platform at night and the frequency of app opens. The Commission elaborated on its concerns in a statement:
"By constantly 'rewarding' users with new content, certain design features of TikTok fuel the urge to keep scrolling and shift the brain of users into 'autopilot mode'. Scientific research shows that this may lead to compulsive behaviour and reduce users’ self-control."
To address these issues, the Commission has mandated that TikTok alter the "basic design" of its user interface. This includes disabling features like infinite scroll, implementing mandatory screen time breaks, and overhauling its recommendation system.
TikTok's Rebuttal
In response to the allegations, TikTok vehemently denied the claims. A spokesperson for the company issued an emailed statement:
"The Commission’s preliminary findings present a categorically false and entirely meritless depiction of our platform, and we will take whatever steps are necessary to challenge these findings through every means available to us."
While TikTok currently offers screen-time management tools and parental controls, the European Commission deems them insufficient to mitigate the risks of its addictive design. The Commission noted that "time management tools do not seem to be effective in enabling users to reduce and control their use of TikTok because they are easy to dismiss and introduce limited friction. Similarly, parental controls may not be effective because they require additional time and skills from parents to introduce the controls."
Global Scrutiny and Legal Ramifications
The allegations against TikTok arrive amidst increasing global scrutiny of social media platforms, with governments worldwide exploring measures to regulate or restrict access for younger users. For instance, Australia mandated in December that social media sites deactivate accounts for users under 16. The UK and Spain are reportedly considering similar actions, while France, Denmark, Italy, and Norway have implemented comparable age-restriction measures. In the United States, 24 states have enacted age-verification laws.
TikTok recently settled a significant social media addiction lawsuit in the U.S. The company now has an opportunity to formally respond to the European Commission’s preliminary findings. Confirmed breaches of the DSA can lead to substantial penalties, including fines of up to 6% of a company's global annual turnover.
