Regulators emphasize that such mechanisms can "put the brain on autopilot," leading to excessive use of the platform. Furthermore, the European Commission noted that TikTok has not implemented adequate measures to minimize addiction risks, especially among young people. Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the EC, stated that addiction to social media can negatively impact the mental health of developing individuals.
Particular attention was paid to the "Daily Screen Time" feature, which limits app usage for users aged 13 to 17 to one hour. The European Commission believes that this measure is ineffective, as notifications about the limit can be easily ignored. TikTok's parental control system was also criticized, as it requires significant effort and special skills from parents, which reduces its practical effectiveness.
To comply with DSA requirements, TikTok will need to reconsider its core design. Possible changes include disabling infinite scrolling, introducing more effective viewing breaks, and adjusting recommendation algorithms.
In response to the regulators' findings, TikTok characterized them as "categorically false" and expressed its intention to contest them by all available means. The company also noted that there is no universal approach to regulating screen time and reminded of additional features such as sleep mode and a rewards system for adhering to time limits.
The investigation into TikTok began in 2024 and aims to assess compliance with the DSA, which establishes requirements for risk management, content moderation, and transparency of online platforms. The European Commission's findings are preliminary, and the investigation is ongoing. If violations are confirmed, TikTok may face a fine of up to 6% of its global annual turnover.
