EU Commission accuses TikTok of posing a health risk

According to preliminary investigation results by the EU Commission, TikTok is endangering its users through the video recommendations on its platform. The company faces a fine because its algorithm shows even those in need of protection an endless stream of personalized videos, which can increase psychological problems, the Brussels authority said. It promotes the risk of addiction as well as eating and anxiety disorders.

The Commission accuses TikTok of not having adequately contained this risk. Previous countermeasures are ineffective. Even the “Not interested” button is not enough to change the feed.

It's all about "For You"

The “For You” page, which is intended to display content that interests users particularly quickly, is the focus of the process. The EU Commission is demanding changes here because it fears “rabbit hole” effects. What this means is that you get so deeply lost in a topic that you can't find your way out - similar to how the main character in "Alice in Wonderland" goes down a rabbit hole.

Algorithms can theoretically recognize and exploit such behavioral patterns so that users spend more time on a platform. The EU Commission criticized the TikTok algorithm for personalizing content that could be stressful, thereby endangering children and young people in particular. "This functionality can be harmful if such endlessly repeated content is about, for example, sadness, loneliness or body image," the commission found.

The Commission ordered TikTok to fundamentally change the way the “For You” page on TikTok works. The algorithm should no longer be based on how long users watch a video. Instead, they should have more control over the “For You” page and be able to decide more for themselves what they see on TikTok.

This is the third case against TikTok

The EU Commission is thus pushing ahead with the next proceedings against the app operated by the Chinese company Bytedance. It is the third time that Brussels has confronted the online giant with investigation results and accused it of violating the Digital Services Act (DSA).

There has been no penalty since the first proceedings against TikTok were opened in February 2024.

Critics accuse the Commission of acting too hesitantly. Brussels points out that decisions must also stand up in court. Proceedings are also underway against TikTok because of other ways the app works. The EU Commission fears that minors could become addicted. Specifically, the addiction-promoting mechanisms involve the uninterrupted, automatic playing of videos.

In addition, in a separate case in July, the Brussels-based company accused the company of not protecting children and young people sufficiently from the abusive behavior of other users. Among other things, the authority criticizes the fact that strangers can see the public user accounts of minors and contact the young users with abusive intentions.

Without an agreement, things could get expensive for TikTok

In all proceedings, the company has the opportunity to defend itself against the allegations or to address the EU's concerns by making appropriate changes. If no amicable solution is found, it could be expensive for TikTok. The EU Commission would then formally identify a violation and could impose a penalty of up to six percent of annual group sales.

Daily penalties would also be possible to get TikTok to give in.