The European Union announced today that it has warned TikTok to change its 'addictive design,' threatening significant financial penalties after the platform was found to be in breach of the bloc's digital content rules. The European Commission, announcing the preliminary results of an investigation launched two years ago, stated that it has concluded that TikTok is not taking effective steps to mitigate the negative impacts of some of its features, particularly those affecting young people and children. The Commission explained that the platform is believed to be 'in breach of the Digital Services Act due to its addictive design,' through features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, instant notifications, and a highly personalized recommendation system. The Commission added that the findings so far indicate that TikTok has not made sufficient efforts 'to assess how these addictive features harm the physical and mental health of its users, including minors and adults most at risk.' To address these concerns and avoid potential fines, EU Commissioner for Technology, Henna Virkkunen, stated that 'TikTok must take real action and change the design of its service in Europe to protect minors and ensure their safety.' The Commission provided examples of possible modifications, including: -Re-evaluating the 'infinite scroll' feature, which allows for continuous content consumption without stopping. -Implementing effective screen break periods, including during nighttime hours. -Modifying the recommendation system and algorithms that deliver highly personalized content to users. This investigation, which began in February 2024, is the first probe opened against TikTok under the Digital Services Act, a strict piece of legislation for content governance that drew criticism from the Trump administration. This law is part of a broader legislative package adopted by the EU in recent years to curb the excesses of major tech companies, even as European authorities confirmed that TikTok is cooperating with the bloc's digital regulators. The Commission expressed concern over the platform's design features that 'promote the desire to keep scrolling,' accusing TikTok of ignoring 'key indicators of compulsive app use,' such as the number of hours children spend on the platform at night. Should the regulatory body's position be confirmed, the Commission could impose a fine of up to 6% of the company's total global annual revenue.
