TikTok Faces EU Pressure to Revise Its ‘Addictive Design’ or Risk Heavy Fines
The European Union has issued a clear ultimatum to TikTok, demanding it alter its addictive design or confront substantial fines. This directive follows an investigation launched in February 2024 by the European Commission, which found that TikTok had violated online safety regulations.
Key Findings from the Investigation
– Lack of Adequate Assessment: The Commission discovered that TikTok did not properly evaluate how features such as autoplay could pose risks to user wellbeing, particularly for children.
– Failure to Mitigate Risks: There was a noted absence of measures to reduce these identified risks.
TikTok’s spokesperson vehemently refuted the findings, labeling them as a categorically false and entirely meritless depiction of our platform, and has indicated plans to challenge these conclusions.
Potential Consequences for TikTok
– Response Opportunity: TikTok has been invited to address the EU’s findings directly.
– Massive Fines: Should the situation not resolve favorably for the platform, the European Commission could impose fines up to 6% of TikTok’s total global annual turnover, potentially amounting to billions of dollars.
EU Recommendations for Change
EU Tech Chief Henna Virkkunen emphasized that TikTok must make significant design changes in order to avoid penalties. The Commission has proposed several actionable changes:
– Screen Time Breaks: Implementing enforced breaks for users during nighttime to promote healthier usage patterns.
– Algorithm Adjustments: Revising algorithms that personalize user content to mitigate excessive engagement.
– Disabling Infinite Scroll: Removing the infinite scroll feature that allows users to endlessly browse through videos.
The Digital Services Act holds platforms accountable for their impact on users, Virkkunen stated. In Europe, we are committed to enforcing our legislation to protect our children and citizens online.
As TikTok navigates this pivotal moment, its ability to adapt its design will determine its standing within the EU framework. The outcome could set a precedent for other social media platforms facing similar scrutiny regarding their design practices.