The report emphasizes that functional elements such as infinite scrolling create a constant flow of content, contributing to compulsive behavior. Regulators believe that these mechanisms "put the brain on autopilot," pushing users to spend excessive time on the platform.
The European Commission noted that TikTok has not taken adequate measures to reduce addiction risks, especially among young people. Executive Vice-President of the EC for Technological Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, emphasized that addiction to social media can negatively impact children's mental development.
The feature "Daily Screen Time," which limits app usage to one hour for users aged 13 to 17, has come under criticism. Regulators believe that notifications about reaching the limit can easily be ignored. Additionally, TikTok's parental control system requires significant effort and skills from parents, which reduces its effectiveness.
According to preliminary findings, to comply with the DSA, TikTok must change key elements of its design. It is recommended to disable infinite scrolling, introduce more effective "viewing breaks," and adjust recommendation algorithms.
In response, TikTok told Euronews Next that it considers the regulator's findings to be "categorically false" and intends to challenge them by all available means. The company also noted that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to regulating screen time and reminded about additional features such as sleep mode and a rewards system for adhering to time limits.
The investigation into TikTok began in 2024 to verify compliance with the DSA, which sets requirements for risk management, content moderation, and transparency of online platforms. The European Commission's findings are preliminary, and the investigation is ongoing. If violations are confirmed, TikTok could face fines of up to 6% of its annual global turnover.
