tech
February 6, 2026
TikTok Could Be Forced to Change App’s ‘Addictive Design’ by European Commission
Preliminary EU ruling says app shifts brains of users into ‘autopilot mode’, with concerns for children and vulnerable adults
TL;DR
- The EU's preliminary ruling states TikTok has breached the Digital Services Act (DSA) due to its 'addictive design'.
- The European Commission believes TikTok's design fails to adequately assess risks to users' mental and physical well-being, including children.
- Concerns include features that encourage constant scrolling, leading to compulsive behavior and reduced self-control.
- The commission is considering forcing changes such as disabling 'infinite scroll', implementing 'screen time breaks', and adapting the recommender system.
- TikTok's safety regime, including screentime management and parental controls, is deemed inadequate.
- Breaches of the DSA can result in fines up to 6% of a company's annual turnover and mandated app redesigns.
- TikTok has vehemently rejected the commission's findings and plans to challenge them.
- Separately, X (formerly Twitter) was fined €120m by the EU for DSA breaches.
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