European Commission Orders TikTok To Disable 'Addictive' Features
EU demands TikTok disable infinite scroll and autoplay and fix its recommendation engine, warning of fines up to 6% of global turnover.
Epoch TimesEU Orders TikTok to Fix App’s ‘Addictive Design’
Breitbart NewsEU Charges China's TikTok with Violating Digital Content Rules with Addictive Design Features
TechCrunchEU says TikTok must disable 'addictive' features like infinite scroll, fix its recommendation engine
GizmodoEU Says TikTok's 'Addictive Design' Likely Violates the Law, Will Need to Change
Overview
On Feb. 6 the European Commission concluded in preliminary findings that TikTok's infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications and recommendation algorithm likely breach the Digital Services Act and ordered design changes, the Commission said.
Henna Virkkunen, the Commission's executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, said social media addiction can harm children and that TikTok failed a two-year probe to assess risks to minors and vulnerable adults.
A TikTok spokesperson said in an emailed statement the Commission's preliminary findings are "categorically false and entirely meritless" and that the company will challenge the conclusions through every available means.
The Commission said TikTok has about 170 million EU users and cited data that 7% of children aged 12-15 spend four to five hours daily on the app, spokesman Thomas Regnier said.
TikTok has an opportunity to reply before a final decision and could face fines up to 6% of global turnover or binding user-interface changes if regulators confirm the violations, the Commission said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story around regulatory and child-protection concerns, foregrounding the EU’s 'addictive design' allegation through repeated, evaluative terms and alarming stats. Editorial choices privilege Commission statements and supportive experts, give a brief TikTok denial, and organize details to emphasize risks and regulatory remedies rather than platform defenses.
FAQ
The Commission ordered TikTok to disable infinite scroll and autoplay, implement more effective screen time breaks, and modify its recommendation algorithm.
The DSA is an EU law regulating online platforms, requiring very large platforms like TikTok to assess and mitigate systemic risks such as addiction through design changes, with fines up to 6% of global turnover for non-compliance.
TikTok stated that the findings are 'categorically false and entirely meritless' and will challenge them through every available means.
TikTok could face fines up to 6% of its global annual turnover or be required to implement binding changes to its user interface.
About 7% of children aged 12-15 spend four to five hours daily on TikTok, which has around 170 million users in the EU.
