The European Commission has preliminarily charged TikTok under the Digital Services Act for an addictive design, citing features like infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and a highly personalized recommender system that could harm user wellbeing, including minors.

If TikTok does not address regulator demands, the company faces a potential fine of up to 6% of its global annual revenue.

Regulators found current tools such as screen-time management and parental controls ineffective, as they can be easily bypassed, signaling a need for stronger design changes.

This case is part of a broader EU scrutiny of platforms under the DSA, alongside reviews of data access and cooperation with researchers, and parallels action against other big platforms like Meta and Instagram.

Updates are expected as the investigation and regulatory process continue to unfold.

The Digital Services Act, enacted in 2024, aims to make online platforms safer and more transparent.

The coverage also highlights a controversy around satire: a Greenland-related segment was removed and apologized for, underscoring sensitivities around geopolitical topics.

The case sits within a broader pattern of global scrutiny over youth addiction to social media, with Australia and some European countries considering or implementing age-related access limits, and related U.S. litigation continues.

Contextual backdrop includes ongoing debates in other regions over age verification and access restrictions, with Portugal planning a February 12 debate on child protection online.

These EU findings come amid wider global scrutiny of platform design and youth safety, potentially influencing practices beyond Europe.

Author notes and related cultural pieces appear in the broader coverage, with other unrelated items included in the same report.

The EU action aligns with increased regulatory pressure on Big Tech, as regulators probe age verification, data access, and minor protections across multiple platforms.