European regulators say TikTok’s algorithm is putting users at risk.
The European Commission found on Nov. 6 that the platform breached the European Union’s Digital Services Act, saying its recommendation system repeatedly steers users toward potentially harmful videos and that the company has not done enough to address the risks. The commission enforces the law, which sets rules for how large online platforms handle illegal and harmful content.
The findings are preliminary, and TikTok has disputed them. The company can respond before regulators reach a final decision.
What did regulators find about TikTok?
The case centers on the For You feed, which recommends videos based on what users watch and how they interact. Someone who repeatedly watches videos about weight loss, for example, may be shown more of the same.
Regulators said such recommendations can pull users into harmful rabbit holes that may damage their mental health, especially children and vulnerable adults. Content about dieting, body image and sadness can be especially risky when it piles up.
Why aren’t the safeguards working?
The commission said the platform’s existing protections fall short. The Not Interested button, meant to limit unwanted recommendations, may do little to change what shows up in the feed, it said.
The reason, regulators said, is that the algorithm gives more weight to how long users watch a video than to what they say they want. That means a user may keep seeing similar content even after trying to opt out.
In other words, lingering on a video can count for more than tapping a button to reject it.
What changes does the EU want from TikTok?
A commission spokesperson said in early October that TikTok needs to redesign its For You feed to meet the bloc’s rules for digital services.
That includes giving more weight to users’ stated preferences, no longer using viewing time to recommend content, making controls easier to use and regularly testing the algorithm, he said. Regular testing would help show whether the changes actually work.
Dropping viewing time as a signal would strike at the heart of how the app keeps people scrolling. Critics of social media have long argued that such signals reward content that grabs attention rather than content users want.
What could happen to TikTok next?
Under the Digital Services Act, companies found in breach can face fines of up to 6% of their global annual revenue. The commission can also order changes to how a platform operates.
The law requires the largest online platforms to assess and reduce risks their services pose to users, including risks to mental health and to minors. Platforms must also give users an option for a feed that is not based on profiling.
TikTok, which has disputed the findings, now has a chance to respond formally. The company has faced other investigations under the same law, according to reports.
Why does this matter for families?
Millions of young people use the app every day, and the For You feed is often the first thing they see when they open it. Many use it to find news, music and entertainment.
Parents can use the platform’s family settings to limit screen time and filter content, and talking with kids about what shows up in their feeds can help. Resetting the feed is another option when recommendations go in an unhealthy direction.
Whatever the final ruling, the case could shape how TikTok and other platforms design their feeds in Europe and beyond. Regulators in other countries, including the United States, are also weighing how social media affects young users.
