EU Demands Changes from TikTok to curb Addiction Among Minors

On February 6, the European Union signaled a strong stance against TikTok, stating that the popular social media platform must alter its addictive design or face severe penalties under its digital content regulations. The European Commission's preliminary conclusions from a two-year investigation highlighted that TikTok has not sufficiently addressed the negative impacts of its app, especially on children and vulnerable adults. The potential ramifications for TikTok are severe; if the EU's position is upheld, the company could face fines of up to six percent of its total global annual revenue. Thomas Regnier, a spokesperson for the commission, pointed to features like infinite scrolling, autoplay, push notifications, and the platform's highly personalized recommendation system as elements that encourage compulsive usage—particularly among young users. He noted, "These features lead to the compulsive use of the app especially for our kids, posing significant risks to their mental health and well-being." TikTok has strongly rejected these findings, labeling them a "categorically false and entirely meritless" interpretation of its platform. A spokesperson stated that the company intends to challenge the EU's findings using all available means, and they will have the chance to review the EU's conclusions to defend their case. This inquiry marked the first under the Digital Services Act (DSA), which is part of the EU's efforts to regulate Big Tech more effectively. In recent months, TikTok was believed to be cooperating with EU regulators, but the February investigation raised alarms regarding the platform’s responsibility towards its young audience. Regnier cited concerning statistics regarding TikTok's usage in the EU, declaring it the most popular platform among children aged 13 to 18 during late-night hours, with some children aged 12 to 15 reportedly spending four to five hours daily on the app. The commission expressed concern that TikTok has not recognized crucial indicators of compulsive app usage, such as the significant time minors spend on the platform late at night. Additionally, the findings criticized TikTok for failing to implement adequate protective measures, particularly relating to screen time management and parental controls. Regulier noted that TikTok's time management tools were often dismissed by young users, and parental controls required excessive time and know-how from parents to set up effectively. EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen emphasized the necessity for TikTok to prioritize the safety and well-being of minors. She urged the platform to redesign its features in Europe to better protect young users and proposed potential changes such as eliminating infinite scrolling, instituting effective screen time breaks, especially during night hours, and adjusting the algorithm that tailors content recommendations. The EU's findings come amid broader discussions in various European countries about limiting social media access for younger teenagers, suggesting that EU-wide regulations may be on the horizon. Virkkunen articulated a vision for social media platforms to be designed with safety as a primary concern, stating, "Social media should be so safe by design that we shouldn’t have that kind of very high age restriction." Moreover, the EU has initiated an additional investigation into TikTok concerning alleged foreign interference during Romania's presidential elections. Regnier mentioned that TikTok has been responsive and proactive in addressing issues raised during this inquiry, which remains ongoing. As regulators continue to monitor TikTok's actions, their decisions could significantly shape the landscape of online regulations, particularly regarding youth engagement with social media. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2