The European Union has formally charged TikTok with breaching its online content rules, escalating regulatory pressure on the social media giant and signaling tougher enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA). The European Commission said TikTok must redesign key features of its app or risk fines of up to 6 percent of parent company ByteDance’s global turnover.

EU targets TikTok’s addictive design and recommender system

The charges follow a year-long investigation by the European Commission into TikTok’s compliance with the DSA, a landmark regulation requiring large online platforms to reduce risks linked to illegal and harmful content.

EU regulators focused on what they described as TikTok’s “addictive design,” citing features such as:

• Infinite scrolling feeds
• Autoplay functionality
• Push notifications
• Highly personalised recommender algorithms

According to the Commission, these features constantly generate new content to keep users engaged and can push users into “autopilot mode,” encouraging compulsive usage patterns.

The regulator, in its report released on February 6, said TikTok failed to adequately assess how these design choices may harm users’ physical and mental wellbeing, particularly children and vulnerable adults.

Concerns about minors and compulsive app use

The Commission’s preliminary findings accuse TikTok of overlooking key indicators of problematic usage. Regulators highlighted concerns about:

• The amount of time minors spend on the app at night
• Frequency of app openings
• Lack of effective risk mitigation measures

Authorities said TikTok has not implemented sufficient safeguards such as:

• Strong screen-time management tools
• Effective parental control features
• Proportionate measures to reduce compulsive use

EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said the platform must now change its service design in Europe to better protect minors.

Regulators have suggested several corrective steps, including disabling infinite scroll over time, introducing effective screen-time breaks, and modifying its recommender system to reduce addictive patterns, Reuters news report said.

TikTok rejects EU allegations

TikTok strongly criticized the Commission’s findings and signaled it will challenge the charges.

A TikTok spokesperson said the regulator’s preliminary conclusions present a “categorically false and entirely meritless depiction” of the platform and confirmed the company will take necessary steps to defend its position.

The company will be allowed to review the Commission’s documents and submit a written response before a final decision is issued.

Wider EU crackdown on Big Tech

The move underscores the European Union’s ongoing crackdown on major technology platforms under the DSA. The regulation requires large online platforms to actively manage risks tied to harmful content, manipulation, and user safety.

Other tech companies are also under scrutiny:

• Meta’s Facebook and Instagram were charged in 2024 for deceptive interface designs and dark patterns
• Snapchat, YouTube, Apple and Google have been asked to provide information about age verification systems and protections for minors

EU officials say investigations into additional platforms are progressing, with more decisions expected in the coming months.

Global momentum for stricter social media rules

The case against TikTok comes amid growing global concern about the impact of social media on young users.

Several countries are considering or implementing tougher rules:

• France and Spain are exploring social media restrictions for teenagers
• India is debating potential limits on youth access to social platforms
• Australia recently became the first country to ban social media access for children under 16

While age limits remain the responsibility of individual EU member states, EU officials say a coordinated approach across Europe would be beneficial.

Financial and regulatory risks for ByteDance

If the Commission confirms its preliminary findings, TikTok could face significant financial penalties of up to 6 percent of ByteDance’s global revenue. The company may also be forced to make major changes to its app design in Europe.

The investigation adds to TikTok’s mounting legal and regulatory challenges. The company recently settled a social media addiction lawsuit and previously resolved DSA charges related to publishing an advertising repository for detecting scam ads.

Growing debate over addictive technology

EU lawmakers have welcomed the action, arguing that social media platforms often rely on engagement-driven design to boost advertising revenue.

Supporters of the crackdown say stricter oversight is necessary to protect children and teenagers from harmful digital environments, while critics warn that heavy regulation could intensify tensions between the EU and the United States over tech governance.

The outcome of the TikTok case is likely to shape how digital platforms design their services in Europe and could influence global standards for online safety and platform accountability.

BABURAJAN KIZHAKEDATH