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The European Union has told TikTok to change parts of its app design that encourage excessive use. EU regulators say the platform breaks digital safety rules.
The European Commission said TikTok must adjust how it recommends content to users. It also wants the app to add clear screen time breaks. Regulators said TikTok should disable infinite scrolling.
First Design Ruling Under Digital Services Act
This is the first time the Commission has ruled on social media design under the Digital Services Act. The law aims to protect users from online harm.
EU officials said this decision sets a global standard on addictive app design.
TikTok Risks Heavy Financial Penalties
TikTok could face fines of up to 6 percent of its annual global revenue if it fails to comply. The company can now respond to the findings and review the evidence.
TikTok rejected the claims. A company spokesperson said the findings are wrong and will be challenged.
Investigation Into Addictive Features Continues
EU regulators opened the investigation in February 2024. In May 2025, they accused TikTok of breaking transparency rules.
Other parts of the investigation are still ongoing. These include age verification systems and content recommendation tools.
Minors Face Higher Risk
EU officials warned that addictive features affect minors more than adults. Children often lack tools to control compulsive behavior.
Regulators said features like autoplay and infinite scroll push users to stay longer on the app. They added that TikTok’s current safety tools do not reduce mental health risks enough.
Impact on Other Social Media Platforms
Other platforms are watching the case closely. Facebook and Instagram also face investigations over similar design choices.
The Commission said TikTok failed to limit risks to users’ mental health, as required by EU law.
