The European Commission said on Friday that its preliminary findings indicate TikTok’s design is “addictive” and breaches EU law. Regulators pointed to features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications and a highly personalized recommendation system as key contributors to their assessment.
The commission concluded TikTok did not adequately evaluate how those features can harm users’ physical and mental wellbeing, including that of minors and vulnerable adults. Officials warned the continuous stream of content can put users into an “autopilot mode,” fostering compulsive behaviour and eroding self-control.
To meet EU requirements, the platform would need to alter its core design: disable certain addictive features, introduce meaningful screen-time breaks — including at night — and modify its recommender system.
European Commission Vice President Henna Virkkunen said social media addiction can have “detrimental effects” on children and teenagers and stressed that Europe will enforce legislation to protect children and citizens online.
TikTok dismissed the findings as “categorically false.” The company has the right to respond; if the commission’s conclusions are upheld, TikTok could be fined up to 6% of ByteDance’s global annual turnover. A TikTok spokesperson said the company will challenge the findings by all available means.
The action comes as the EU implements the Digital Services Act (DSA), a powerful set of rules for tech firms that took effect in 2022. In December, Elon Musk’s X was fined €120 million for DSA transparency violations — a decision that drew criticism from the U.S. government. Other platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, have also faced DSA-related charges.
Edited by Zac Crellin