TikTok has been told by the European Union that it must change parts of its app design or risk facing massive financial penalties, after regulators found the platform may be harming users’ wellbeing, particularly children.
The warning follows an investigation launched in 2024 by the European Commission into whether TikTok complies with the EU’s Digital Services Act. In its preliminary findings, the Commission said TikTok failed to properly assess the risks created by features such as autoplay, infinite scroll and highly personalised content feeds.
Regulators said these design elements could encourage excessive use and negatively affect mental health, especially among younger users. They also found TikTok had not put sufficient measures in place to reduce those risks.
Under EU law, TikTok could be fined up to 6% of its global annual turnover, which would amount to billions of pounds. EU officials said the company would need to redesign how the app works in Europe if it wants to avoid penalties.
Suggested changes include introducing screen time breaks, particularly at night, altering recommendation algorithms and potentially disabling infinite scroll. EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said the focus was no longer just on harmful content, but on harmful design.
TikTok has rejected the findings, calling them inaccurate and saying it plans to challenge the decision. However, experts say the move marks a major shift in how regulators approach social media, signalling tougher action on platforms built around maximising user engagement.
Author: Kieran Seymour