The European Commission (EU) recently announced that TikTok is facing a finedue to addictive features , such as endless scrolling, auto-play, push notifications and personalized recommendation systems. According to the EU, the above elements violate the Digital Services Act (DSA). The decision comes as part of stricter supervision of major social media platforms to protect users, especially minors.
According to the Commission's preliminary findings, TikTok has not adequately assessed how these features may affect the physical and mental well-being of users. This includes both adolescents and vulnerable adults, who may be affected by the constant compulsive scrolling and continuous content consumption.
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The psychology behind addiction
Experts point out that TikTok reinforces the tendency of users to enter an “autopilot mode”, where the constant renewal of content rewards the brain and reduces self-control. The Commission notes that the platform ignores important indicators of compulsive use, such as the time minors spend on the app at night or the frequency with which they open the app daily.
If the findings are confirmed, the violations could lead to a fine of up to 6% of TikTok's global annual turnover , an amount that would likely run into billions of dollars
What the EU requires from TikTok
To avoid being fined, the platform is required to adapt the basic design of its services, including:
- Screen time breaks for users
- Adjusting content recommendations to reduce compulsive use
- Disabling key addictive features, such as endless scrolling
EU technology commissioner Henna Virkkunenstressed that “social media addiction can have serious effects on the developing minds of children and adolescents” and that the EU will enforce its legislation to protect citizens.
Parallel security measures and previous fines
The Commission admits that TikTok has some protection tools, such as parental controls and screen time management, but it believes that they are limited in their effectiveness, since parents must activate them manually and users can easily bypass them.
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This is not the first time the platform has been targeted by Europe:
- May 2025: The Irish Data Protection Commission imposed a fine of €530 million for illegally transferring user data to China.
- 2023: Fine of 345 million euros for violating children's privacy through shady video recording and posting patterns.
- November 2025: French criminal investigation into negligence in protecting children's mental health.
The fines and investigations show a systematic EU approach to mandatory child protection and regulation of the behavior of large tech platforms.
The broader message
The European Commission's action against TikTok sends a clear message: social networking platforms bear legal and moral responsibility for the impact they have on their users, especially minors.
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Parents and users are urged to utilize screen time control tools, monitor platform usage and encourage healthy browsing habits, while the EU continues to strengthen its regulatory oversight to protect mental health and privacy online.
The TikTok case is a typical example of the conflict between the interactivity of social platforms and the need for a safe and healthy online environment.
Source: www.bleepingcomputer.com
