TikTok Faces EU Pressure to Alter ‘Addictive Design’ Under Digital Services Act

The European Commission has issued a preliminary ruling indicating that TikTok may have violated the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) due to its app design, which is considered addictive. The ruling highlights concerns that TikTok’s interface encourages compulsive use by constantly rewarding users with new content, effectively shifting their brains into an “autopilot mode.” This design allegedly undermines users’ self-control and poses risks to physical and mental wellbeing, especially among children and vulnerable adults. With over 1 billion users globally, TikTok’s influence is significant, prompting the EU to scrutinize how its algorithm and features impact user behavior.

The Commission’s preliminary findings criticize TikTok for failing to adequately assess and mitigate the harms caused by its addictive design. Notably, the app’s “infinite scroll” feature and content recommendation system were singled out as key drivers of excessive use. The ruling also points to TikTok’s insufficient safety measures, such as ineffective screen time management tools and cumbersome parental controls, which do not sufficiently protect younger users. For example, indicators of compulsive use, like prolonged nighttime app usage by children, were reportedly ignored by the platform.

As a result, the European Commission is considering compelling TikTok to implement substantial changes to its app. Proposed modifications include disabling or limiting addictive features like infinite scrolling, introducing effective screen time breaks especially during nighttime hours, and adjusting the recommender algorithm to reduce compulsive engagement. These potential remedies aim to enhance user safety and promote healthier interaction with the platform. TikTok has the opportunity to respond and challenge the Commission’s findings before any final decision is made.

This action fits into a broader regulatory push within the EU and beyond to address the negative impacts of social media on mental health and online safety. Campaigners and policymakers have increasingly called for reforms to “detoxify the dopamine loops” that drive addictive behaviors on social platforms. The Digital Services Act, which came into effect recently, empowers regulators to impose fines and mandate changes for companies that breach its provisions. Violations can result in penalties of up to 6% of a company’s annual global turnover, a significant deterrent given TikTok’s estimated $35 billion revenue in 2026.

TikTok’s situation echoes previous enforcement actions under the DSA, such as the €120 million fine levied against Elon Musk’s X platform last year for deceptive practices and obstructing research on advertising content. The EU’s approach signals a growing willingness to hold major tech platforms accountable for the societal impacts of their design choices. For TikTok, this preliminary ruling could mark the beginning of a major shift in how the app balances user engagement with digital wellbeing, potentially influencing the broader social media landscape worldwide.