The European Commission has requested TikTok to change design elements that create addictive behavior in users.
According to the preliminary findings of the Commission, TikTok's current interface violates the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA). The document states that the endless scrolling, auto-starting of videos, push notifications and personalized recommendation algorithms in the application create addiction in users.
The European Commission's statement states that TikTok has not adequately assessed the physical and psychological effects of these features on users, especially minors and vulnerable groups.
The report even emphasizes that the platform "rewards" users' brains with constant new content, putting them on "autopilot mode" and creating a desire to continue watching videos.
According to the Commission, TikTok's risk assessment did not take into account important indicators - such as the amount of time minors use the application at night, the number of times the application is opened during the day and other obsessive usage indicators.
The document also notes that the screen time control and parental control tools available on TikTok do not effectively mitigate the risks associated with addictive design.
“At this stage, the Commission considers that TikTok should change the fundamental design of its service,” the statement said.
It should be noted that these findings do not constitute the final decision of the EU’s in-depth investigation into TikTok, which is ongoing.
