The European Commission stated in a preliminary ruling that TikTok’s infinite scroll, auto-play features and recommendation algorithm amount to an “addictive design” that violates EU laws for online safety and poses potential harm to the “physical and mental well-being” of users.
European regulators are accusing the platform of shifting users into “autopilot mode” and are considering mandatory changes such as disabling infinite scrolling, creating new screen-time limits, and changing its recommendation system. They also accuse the company of disregarding signs that its app was being used compulsively, including the frequency users open the app and the amount of time minors spend on the platform at night.
The Commission wrote 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.”
TikTok does offer parental controls and screen-time management tools, but the Commission says those tools don’t do enough to reduce the risk of its addictive design “because they are easy to dismiss and introduce limited friction.”
TikTok denies the allegations and said:
“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.”
TikTok now has a chance to respond to the allegations, but if not successful with its appeal, faces potential fines up to 6% of its global revenue for violating the EU’s Digital Services Act.
