Brussels: The European Union on Friday levelled preliminary charges against TikTok, accusing the popular video-sharing platform of breaching the bloc’s digital regulations by promoting addictive usage patterns through features such as autoplay and infinite scroll.
EU regulators said their investigation found that TikTok failed to properly evaluate the risks its platform poses to users’ physical and mental well-being, particularly children and other vulnerable groups. The European Commission stated that the app’s core design encourages excessive use and may undermine users’ self-control.
The action has been taken under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), a comprehensive regulatory framework that obliges major online platforms to curb harmful content and safeguard users, or face substantial financial penalties. According to the Commission, TikTok may need to fundamentally alter the way its service is designed.
TikTok has strongly rejected the allegations. In a statement, the company said the Commission’s preliminary findings were “categorically false” and claimed they misrepresent how the platform operates. TikTok added that it would contest the charges using all available legal options.
Under the DSA process, TikTok will now be given an opportunity to formally respond. If the Commission ultimately rules against the company, it could impose fines of up to 6 per cent of TikTok’s global annual turnover.
Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, said social media addiction can have serious consequences for children and adolescents. She emphasised that the DSA makes digital platforms accountable for the societal impact of their services and that the EU is determined to enforce its laws to protect citizens online.
The Commission said TikTok’s design continuously pushes new content to users, encouraging prolonged scrolling and reducing the ability to disengage. Regulators also flagged concerns that the app does not adequately respond to warning signs of compulsive usage, such as prolonged nighttime use by minors or frequent app openings.
According to the findings, TikTok’s existing safeguards are insufficient. The Commission noted that time-management tools are easy to bypass and that parental control features require additional effort and technical understanding, limiting their effectiveness.
Among the changes being considered, EU authorities want TikTok to curb or disable infinite scroll, introduce stronger and more meaningful screen-time breaks—especially during nighttime hours—and modify its highly personalised recommendation algorithm that drives endless content consumption.
TikTok, however, maintains that it already offers a range of user protection tools, including screen-time limits and sleep reminders, which it says help users make conscious choices about how they engage with the platform.
The case adds to growing global scrutiny of social media companies over concerns about youth addiction. Several countries, including Australia, have introduced or proposed restrictions on social media use by minors, while similar regulatory and legal actions are underway in Europe and the United States.
