The European Union Accuses TikTok of Violating Laws Due to 'Addictive Design'

The European Commission announced that the results of a preliminary investigation showed that the design mechanisms adopted in the TikTok application may violate digital laws within the European Union, due to their reliance on features described as enhancing addiction among users, especially children and teenagers.

European Concerns About Children's Digital Health

European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova confirmed that excessive use of social media platforms can have negative effects on the mental development of children and teenagers. She emphasized the need to enforce European laws to protect users, considering that the safety of children online is a priority for the Union.

Technical Features Under Scrutiny

The Commission explained that the investigation focused on several features that may encourage users to spend more time within the app, including infinite scrolling of content, autoplay of videos, pop-up notifications, in addition to personalized recommendation systems based on analyzing user behavior.

Increasing Regulatory Pressure on Digital Platforms

These developments come amid the European Union tightening oversight on major tech companies, as part of broader efforts to ensure that digital platforms comply with data protection laws and user safety, particularly for younger age groups.

The final results of the investigation are expected to determine whether TikTok will face regulatory actions or potential penalties within EU member states.