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EU regulators have announced that TikTok’s “addictive design” could cause it to breach the Digital Services Act (DSA), in preliminary findings of an ongoing investigation into the social media app. If these findings are confirmed, TikTok could face a hefty fine and be required to “change the fundamental design of its service” in order to comply with the law.
The European Commission has taken particular issue with TikTok’s “infinite scrolling, autoplay, notifications and highly personalized recommendation system,” arguing that TikTok has failed to implement appropriate safeguards to ensure that “addictive” features do not “harm the physical and mental health of its users.”
“For example, by constantly ‘rewarding’ users with new content, some of TikTok’s design features fuel the desire to keep scrolling and shift users’ minds into ‘autopilot mode’.” press release. “Scientific research shows that this may lead to compulsive behavior and reduce self-control in users.”
The committee suggests that TikTok’s current parental controls and screen time features are inadequate, and that TikTok may need to make them more effective, along with limiting endless scrolling and adapting its recommendation algorithm.
TikTok now has the opportunity to defend itself and its design before the investigation concludes. If found guilty of violating the Digital Services Act, it could face a fine of up to 6 percent of its annual worldwide sales. The investigation was extensive It opened in February 2024and indeed found TikTok to be at fault for insufficient transparency in its services propaganda And for her Providing general data to researchers.
An unnamed TikTok spokesperson said: “The committee’s preliminary findings present a categorically false and completely undeserved portrayal of our platform.” L said Financial Times. “We will take all necessary steps to challenge these results by all means at our disposal.”
It’s been a tumultuous start to the year for TikTok, which has finally come to an end Under new ownership in the United StatesThe transfer was followed almost immediately by A Long weekend break. It has raised its new owners in the United States New fears About censorship and algorithm design coming to the US only, besides Questions in Congress About whether her legal problems have truly been resolved. Meanwhile, restrictions and bans on social media are increasingly popular among lawmakers around the world, with Spain being the latest country to do so Suggest blocking apps Of users under 16.