TikTok’s addictive features may violate digital safety rules, according to preliminary findings from the European Commission. The EU executive warns of addiction risks, while the company said it disagrees with the findings and will challenge them.
The findings were presented as part of an investigation into TikTok’s compliance with the Digital Services Act (DSA), launched in February 2024. They indicate that TikTok does not adequately assess how features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and its highly personalised recommender system can have a damaging effect on the mental health of users – in particular children.
An investigation into the social media platform’s age assurance systems remains ongoing. During the presentation, Commission officials were keen to stress the platform’s obligations to “ensure a high level of privacy, safety and security for minors.”
Turn your brain off and shift into autopilot?
Describing the risk of “rabbit hole” addiction the Commission said: “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.”
Given that Tiktok’s whole business model relies on advertising and the need to engage users as much as possible, this is a significant blow.
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A statement from Tiktok refuted the claims: “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,” said a TikTok spokesperson.
According to the platform, teen accounts have more than 50 preset features and accounts belonging to teens aged 13-17 have their screen time set to 60 minutes automatically, while those aged 13-15 do not receive push notifications after 9pm.
The platform further pointed to its parental controls to set customisable guardrails based on individual needs and said that users aged 13-17 receive prompts to switch off after 10pm. If the first reminder is ignored, “we show a second, harder to dismiss, full-screen prompt,” said the company.
TikTok needs to change its basic design
However the Commission was unconvinced that these measures are sufficient. “Risk mitigation measures TikTok seems to fail to implement reasonable, proportionate and effective measures to mitigate risks stemming from its addictive design. For example, (…) the current (…) screentime management tools and parental control tools do not seem to effectively reduce the risks stemming from TikTok’s addictive design. The time management tools (…) 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.”
A Commission official said that “design features that need changing are far-reaching but not impossible.” “At this stage, the Commission considers that TikTok needs to change the basic design of its service. For instance, by disabling key addictive features such as ‘infinite scroll’ over time, implementing effective ‘screen time breaks’, including during the night and adapting its recommender system.”
A wave of under-16 bans
The announcement comes as pressure mounts on governments to ban all social media platforms for under 16s.
On Tuesday, Spanish premier Pedro Sánchez said urgent action was needed to protect children from a “digital wild west” and proposed a ban on social media use by teenagers. The ban still needs parliamentary approval, but is part of a growing trend after Australia became the first country to introduce such a measure at the end of last year.
Mr Sánchez’s comments drew the ire of X owner Elon Musk who called Sánchez “dirty,” “a tyrant,” and “a traitor,” in a vitriol-filled rant. The same day French cybercrime authorities raided X’s headquarters.
“A search is under way by the cybercrime unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office, the national police cyber unit and Europol,” the Paris prosecutors’ office said.
Elsewhere, as EU Perspectives reported on Thursday, Slovenia is the latest EU country to join a growing number of states Including Australia, France, Denmark and Greece, as well as Spain, that are considering similar bans. According to Thursday’s announcement, the ban will apply to children under the age of 15 and large platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, X and Instagram.
MEPs call for protection of minors
Last November, MEPs voted by 483 to 92 in favour of more action to protect minors online, including an EU-wide minimum age of 16 and bans on the most harmful platforms.
While criticism of social media platforms continues to grow, next Tuesday the Commission is due to present its action plan to tackle cyberbullying. According to the Commission, “Online bullying taking place on social media, messaging apps and other online environments, is one of the most pressing online safety concerns for minors and young people in the EU. One in six adolescents have experienced cyberbullying, and one in eight admit to having participated in it.”
The new action plan will present a harmonised approach to age-verification and provide a common definition of cyberbullying and strengthen existing safety measures under the DSA.
Meanwhile Tiktok will no doubt exercise its right to defence. It may examine the documents in the Commission’s investigation files and reply in writing to the preliminary findings. In parallel, the European Board for Digital Services will be consulted. If the Commission’s views are upheld it could fine Tiktok up to 6 per cent of its total worldwide annual turnover as well as insisting on a re-design of the offending features.
