EU accuses TikTok algorithm of harming users
European Union regulators have accused TikTok of breaking online safety rules through its recommendation system. According to the European Commission, the platform’s algorithm can trap users in endless streams of similar videos. As a result, officials warn that this pattern could harm mental health, particularly among younger users. The company now faces pressure to change […]
The European Union has accused TikTok of violating its digital rules due to the platform's algorithm which recommends a continuous stream of personalized videos, potentially detrimental to users' mental health and body image. The bloc's executive arm stated that TikTok must alter the design of its "For You" feed to give users greater control over opting out of specific content.
The regulators found that TikTok failed to evaluate how its recommendation systems could lead users down "rabbit holes" that threaten their well-being, by showing them similar video clips based on their previous viewing habits or likes, even if they are triggering, such as those about weight loss and mental health struggles. TikTok refuted the European Commission's findings as "fundamentally inaccurate" and denied that its platform has an "addictive design."
The company maintains its commitment to user safety and offers intuitive control over content experience. The European Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, who oversees tech sovereignty, warned that TikTok needs to improve its efforts to protect users' well-being, including minors. Although TikTok introduced measures like a "not interested" button to lessen the "rabbit hole effect," the commission claimed they are ineffective in reducing the recommendation of harmful content.
European regulators are seeking TikTok to modify its "For You" feed, including prioritizing explicit user preferences, preventing reliance on viewing time for recommendations, and making user controls more accessible. This follows a series of enforcement actions by EU regulators using the Digital Services Act, a comprehensive rulebook that could impose significant financial penalties.
The investigation into TikTok's alleged violations has been ongoing for over two years, with the commission having already issued two other sets of preliminary findings, accusing the platform of breaching rules related to addictive design features and failing to adequately protect children's privacy rights.
Written by urgent.news from PBS NewsHour's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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