EU Mandates TikTok to Eliminate Addictive Design Patterns and Overhaul Recommendation Algorithm
The European Commission has issued preliminary findings accusing TikTok of deliberately implementing addictive design patterns within its platform. The investigation, conducted under the Digital Services Act (DSA), identified several problematic features including infinite scroll, autoplay functionality, push notifications, and the platform's recommendation engine.
According to the Commission's assessment, TikTok failed to adequately evaluate how these design decisions impact user well-being, particularly affecting minors and vulnerable populations. The investigation revealed that the company ignored critical indicators of compulsive usage patterns, such as nocturnal screen time metrics and application launch frequency.
The Commission's official statement highlighted the neurological impact of these features: "By constantly 'rewarding' users with new content, certain design features of TikTok fuel the urge to keep scrolling and shift the brain of users into 'autopilot mode'. Scientific research shows that this may lead to compulsive behaviour and reduce users' self-control."
Required Platform Modifications:
The EU regulatory body has mandated fundamental changes to TikTok's user interface architecture, including:
• Disabling infinite scroll functionality• Implementing mandatory screen time breaks
• Comprehensive overhaul of the recommendation system algorithm
While TikTok currently offers screen-time management utilities and parental control features, the Commission determined these safeguards insufficient to mitigate addictive design risks. The regulatory body noted that existing time management tools lack effectiveness due to their dismissible nature and minimal friction implementation. Additionally, parental controls were deemed inadequate as they require significant time investment and technical proficiency from guardians.
Global Regulatory Context:
This enforcement action reflects the intensifying global scrutiny of social media platforms and their impact on youth mental health. Recent international regulatory developments include:
• Australia's December mandate requiring social media platforms to deactivate accounts for users under 16• United Kingdom and Spain exploring similar age-restriction frameworks
• France, Denmark, Italy, and Norway implementing age-verification measures
• 24 U.S. states enacting age-verification legislation
TikTok recently resolved a significant social media addiction lawsuit in the United States and now has an opportunity to respond to the Commission's preliminary findings. Confirmed violations of the DSA carry substantial penalties, including fines up to 6% of global annual revenue.
Sources:
European Commission Official Statement
New York Times - TikTok Settlement Report
Social Media Age Verification Laws by Country
State Age Verification Laws
