EU: TikTok Is Addictive, Might Need To Change Its 'Basic Design'

EU: TikTok Is Addictive, Might Need to Change Its ‘Basic Design’

Last updated: 2026/02/09 at 12:02 AM

News Room Published 9 February 2026

European regulators think you need to ease up on your TikTok screen time.

On Friday, the European Commission issued a preliminary ruling that found TikTok’s “addictive design” violates the EU’s Digital Services Act, which was designed to rein in the excesses of social media platforms. It flagged TikTok’s “infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and its highly personalized recommender system” as major drivers of the app’s alleged addictive design.

“For example, by constantly ‘rewarding’ users with new content, certain design features of TikTok fuel the urge to keep scrolling and shift the brain of users into ‘autopilot mode’. Scientific research shows that this may lead to compulsive behaviour and reduce users’ self-control,” it says.

The Commission also accused TikTok of ignoring “important indicators of compulsive use of the app, such as the time that minors spend on TikTok at night, the frequency with which users open the app, and other potential indicators.” In addition, the preliminary ruling claims TikTok’s current guardrails, such as parental controls and screen time management, have been ineffective, citing a steep learning curve for parents and users’ ability to easily dismiss the controls.

In a bad sign for TikTok, the finding also notes: “At this stage, the Commission considers that TikTok needs to change the basic design of its service. For instance, by disabling key addictive features such as ‘infinite scroll’ over time, implementing effective ‘screen time breaks’, including during the night, and adapting its recommender system.” That doesn’t bode well for rivals, including YouTube’s Shorts and Instagram’s Reels.

The Commission also warns it could fine TikTok up to “6% of the total worldwide annual turnover,” or what should amount to its global revenue. But as part of the regulatory process, TikTok will have the opportunity to defend itself before the EU issues a final decision.

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TikTok told PCMag: “The Commission’s preliminary findings present a categorically false and entirely meritless depiction of our platform, and we will take whatever steps are necessary to challenge these findings through every means available to us.”

In the US, TikTok last week settled a major social media addiction lawsuit that also targets Google’s YouTube and Meta’s Instagram. Terms of TikTok’s settlement have not been disclosed.