Why Europe requires TikTok to change its “addictive” design”

The EU executive has preliminarily determined, according to a statement issued in Brussels, that TikTok is in breach of the DSA (Digital Services Act) by failing to adequately assess and mitigate the risks arising from its design, which is designed to encourage compulsive use. The Chinese platform could face fines of up to 6% of its global turnover if it does not make structural changes to its interface.

TikTok, a Chinese social network, includes features such as infinite scrolling and personalized recommendations, potentially harmful to the wellbeing of users, especially minors, according to the note made public by the Commission. 

Virkkunen: “addiction to social networks can have detrimental effects on developing minds”.” 

Henna Virkkunen (Joutsa, Finland, 1972), Executive Vice-President for Technology Sovereignty, Security and Democracy of the EU executive, stressed that “addiction to social networks can have detrimental effects on the developing minds of children and adolescents. The Digital Services Act holds platforms responsible for the effects they can have on their users. In Europe, we enforce our legislation to protect our children and our citizens online.”.

Six key points

Below are six key points that explain the Commission's rationale:

1. Addiction-promoting design features. TikTok incorporates elements such as infinite scrolling, autoplay, push notifications and a highly personalized recommendation system. These constantly “reward» users with new content, activating an “autopilot mode” in the brain, which reduces self-control and encourages compulsive behavior, according to the Commission.

2. Inadequate risk assessment. TikTok did not conduct a thorough assessment of how these features could harm the physical and mental well-being of its users, including minors and vulnerable adults. The DSA requires VLOPs (Very Large Online Platform) to analyze systemic risks such as mental health impacts, but the platform ignored this.

3. Ignorance of key indicators of compulsive use.. In its analysis, TikTok omitted the time minors spend on the app overnight, the frequency with which they open the app, and other signs of addiction. This violates the DSA's obligation to identify risks to the protection of minors and the general welfare.

Mitigate risks

4. Insufficient and ineffective mitigation measures. TikTok's current tools, such as screen time management and parental controls, do not appear to mitigate risks in a reasonable, proportionate and effective manner, as required by the DSA for VLOPs. “Similarly, parental controls may not be effective because they require additional parental time and skills to enter the controls”. 

5. Need for structural changes in the design. “The Commission considers that Tik Tok needs to change the basic design of its service. For example, by disabling key addictive features such as ‘infinite scrolling’ over time, implementing effective ‘screen time breaks’, including overnight, and adapting its recommendation system.”. 

6. Context of the research and possible consequences. The Commission's preliminary findings are based on an investigation initiated in February 2024. “TikTok now has the opportunity to exercise its right of defense. It will be able to examine the documents in the Commission's investigation files and respond in writing to the Commission's preliminary findings.”. 

In parallel, the European Committee for Digital Services will be consulted. “If the Commission's views are finally confirmed, the Commission may issue a non-compliance decision, which may result in a fine (...) up to a maximum of 6 %” of its annual global turnover, according to the Commission.

Valuation of TikTok

At press time, TikTok had not issued an official statement in its European press room (newsroom.tiktok.com/en-en-u/. However, the company has denied the allegations through statements to the media. 

A TikTok spokesperson described the Commission's preliminary findings as “a categorically false and completely unfounded representation of our platform,” and stated that the company will take “all necessary steps to challenge these findings.” In a similar statement, TikTok plans to challenge the findings “through all available means.”.