Translated with AI
The European Commission has reached a preliminary conclusion that the design of the TikTok video platform, which includes addictive features, violates the European Digital Services Act (DSA) and does not adequately protect users, Euronews reports.
The relevant findings are contained in the European Commission's preliminary opinion, released yesterday. The regulator assesses that the video app uses addictive design elements, specifically the infinite scroll feature, which continuously offers new content to the user with each screen refresh.
The European Commission believes that such design features put users' brains on autopilot and encourage compulsive behavior, including repeated app openings and prolonged scrolling. Regulators emphasize that these findings reflect the increasing pressure on social media platforms to address screen time, particularly among children and adolescents.
The document also states that the European Commission believes TikTok failed to implement adequate safeguards against the risks associated with its addictive features. Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy, emphasized that social media addiction can have detrimental consequences for the developing psyche of children and adolescents. According to her, the Digital Services Act holds online platforms accountable for the consequences of their activities on users. "In Europe, we enforce the law to protect our children and citizens online," she stated.
The European Commission has placed particular emphasis on TikTok's "Daily Screen Time" feature, which allows users to set time limits and receive notifications when they are reached. For users aged 13 to 17, the default limit is one hour. However, the regulator has found this measure ineffective, as the warnings are easily ignored.
TikTok's parental control tools have also raised concerns. Using the "Family Management" feature, parents can customize safety settings, limit screen time, receive activity reports, and block specific search queries and hashtags. However, the European Commission notes that these tools are underutilized, as they require additional time and skills from parents.
The European Commission has concluded that TikTok must change the core design of its service to comply with the DSA. Potential measures include disabling infinite scrolling, implementing more effective "watch breaks," and changes to its video recommendation system.
In response to the European Commission's preliminary findings, TikTok stated in an email to Euronews Next that it considers these assessments "categorically false and completely unreflective of the real state of affairs on the platform." The company emphasized its intention to challenge the findings by all available means. TikTok also stated that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to screen time regulation, so the platform offers users various tools to independently manage their screen time.
The company said that in addition to screen time limits, the platform also includes other features, including a "bedtime clock" that reminds users to close the app at night, and a rewards system that awards badges for meeting set limits.
