The European Commission accused TikTok of breaching digital safety rules with "addictive design" features on Friday, threatening fines up to 6% of the platform's global revenue. EU regulators said TikTok's infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and personalized algorithm encourage compulsive use, particularly among children.
The preliminary findings from a two-year investigation under the Digital Services Act mark the first time EU regulators have applied legal standards for social media addictiveness.
TikTok must now change its core service design or face potential penalties that could reach billions based on the platform's estimated $35 billion annual revenue.
European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier cited "extremely alarming" statistics showing TikTok's impact on young users. The platform has 170 million users in the EU, with most being children according to regulators. Seven percent of children aged 12 to 15 spend four to five hours daily on the app, and it's the most-used platform after midnight for 13- to 18-year-olds.
Regulators said TikTok's design puts users into "autopilot mode" by constantly rewarding them with new content. The commission found the platform disregarded important indicators of compulsive use, including nighttime usage patterns and frequent app openings by minors.
Existing time management tools were described as "easy to dismiss" while parental controls require "additional time and skills from parents."
The EU demands TikTok disable key addictive features like infinite scroll, implement effective screen time breaks including during nighttime hours, and alter its recommendation system. These changes would represent a fundamental redesign of the service that made TikTok a global phenomenon with over one billion users worldwide.
"A categorically false and entirely meritless depiction of our platform."
TikTok immediately rejected the allegations, calling the findings that. A company spokesperson said TikTok will "take whatever steps are necessary to challenge these findings through every means available to us." The platform now has an opportunity to respond before the commission makes a final decision.
The Digital Services Act enforcement follows a broader EU crackdown on Big Tech platforms. Last year, regulators fined Elon Musk's X €120 million ($140 million) for what they described as a "deceptive" verification badge and advertising restrictions. The TikTok case represents one of the first major tests of the DSA's power to mandate platform redesigns.
"Social media should be so safe by design that we shouldn't have that kind of very high age restriction."
EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said that. She emphasized the commission's priority is protecting minors, noting that "social media addiction can have detrimental effects on the developing minds of children and teens."
The investigation began in February 2024 and represents the first formal probe into TikTok under the DSA framework. A separate EU investigation launched in December 2024 examines alleged foreign interference in Romania's presidential elections via TikTok, though regulators said the platform has been "extremely cooperative" in that case.
The EU's action aligns with broader international moves to restrict social media access for younger users. Australia recently banned social media for under-16s, while Spain, France, and the UK are considering similar measures. In the United States, TikTok recently settled a lawsuit centered on social media addiction claims.
If confirmed, the ruling could force TikTok to overhaul the very features that drove its explosive growth.
The platform's endless scroll of algorithmically-tailored content has been central to its success but now faces regulatory scrutiny that could reshape social media design standards across Europe.
