• EU Authorities Demand TikTok Make Changes to Protect Minors
• Accusations of Violating Digital Content Rules Due to Addictive Features

European authorities have accused TikTok of breaching EU digital content laws, citing what regulators described as addictive features in the app.

They demanded that the platform redesign its interface, warning that failure to comply could result in fines of up to 6% of the parent company ByteDance’s global revenue.

The charges focus on TikTok’s addictive design, including features such as infinite scroll, autoplay videos, push notifications, and its highly personalized recommendation system for each user.

TikTok said its algorithm, based on understanding users’ interests, has been a key factor in the app’s global success and criticized the European Commission’s allegations.

The move comes as the EU intensifies oversight of major tech companies, a step that drew criticism from the U.S. government as censorship and prompted threats of tariffs.

The Commission’s accusations follow a year-long investigation under the Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires large platforms to take stronger measures against illegal and harmful content.

A TikTok spokesperson said: “The Commission’s preliminary findings present a completely false and unfounded portrayal of our platform, and we will take all necessary steps to challenge these results.”

The Commission noted that the app constantly generates new content to reward users, encouraging them to keep scrolling and putting their minds on autopilot, citing this as an example of an addictive feature.

The EU regulator also said TikTok had not sufficiently assessed how these features might impact the physical and mental health of users, including children and vulnerable adults. The company was accused of ignoring key indicators of compulsive app usage, such as the hours minors spend on it at night and the frequency of opening the app.

The Commission added that TikTok appears not to have implemented adequate screen time management tools or parental controls to mitigate risks and called for a redesign of the app’s core features.

Henna Virkkunen, EU tech chief, said: “We now expect TikTok to take action to redesign its service in Europe to protect minors.”

The Commission suggested gradually disabling the infinite scroll, introducing effective screen time breaks—including at night—and adjusting the recommendation system.

Virkkunen noted that investigations into other platforms are progressing well, with decisions expected in the coming weeks and months, without revealing company names.

In October last year, the Commission charged Meta (Facebook and Instagram) with DSA violations over so-called “dark patterns” in app design, and requested information from Snapchat, YouTube, Apple, and Google regarding age verification systems and preventing minors from accessing harmful or illegal content.

This comes as some European countries, including France and Spain, as well as India, consider restricting teenagers’ access to social media, reflecting increased scrutiny of technology designed to be addictive.

In December, Australia became the first country in the world to block children under 16 from platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.

Virkkunen stressed that setting the minimum age is up to each country individually, not centrally in Brussels, but highlighted the importance of a coordinated approach across EU digital markets.

EU lawmaker Alexandra Geese praised the move, saying: “Many social media platforms ruthlessly exploit these addictive mechanisms to boost advertising revenue at the expense of children’s and teenagers’ health. This must end now.”

TikTok can request access to the Commission’s documents and submit a written response before a final decision is issued.

Last month, the app settled a social media addiction case ahead of a trial against Meta and YouTube, and last year it resolved cases related to DSA violations concerning publishing a repository of misleading ads.