The European Union has charged TikTok with breaching its online content regulations over concerns that its recommendation algorithm creates a harmful “rabbit hole” effect, continuously exposing users to similar videos. The European Commission said the platform had failed to introduce adequate measures to address the risks associated with its content recommendation system. TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, could face a fine of up to 6% of its global annual turnover next year if it fails to resolve the issues.
The Commission warned that repeated exposure to content related to sadness, isolation and body image could negatively affect users’ mental health, particularly among children and teenagers. It has called on TikTok to redesign its ‘For You’ feed algorithm, give greater importance to users’ explicit preferences, improve access to content controls and regularly assess the effectiveness of its recommendation system. TikTok rejected the allegations, describing the Commission’s statements as fundamentally inaccurate and asserting that it remains committed to user safety while providing users with greater control over their content experience.
The charges fall under the EU’s Digital Services Act, which requires major online platforms to take stronger measures against harmful and illegal content. The latest action forms part of a broader investigation into TikTok, which was also charged in February over alleged addictive design features, child safety concerns and restrictions on researchers accessing public data. Meanwhile, the European Commission is separately investigating similar recommendation-related concerns involving Meta Platforms’ Facebook and Instagram, highlighting growing regulatory pressure on social media companies to address the potential impact of their platforms on users’ mental well-being.
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