EU investigates Tiktok over claims it stimulates addiction in minors

The European Union has launched an investigation into whether TikTok breached online content rules aimed at protecting children and ensuring transparent advertising.

The social media platform owned by China-based ByteDance is at risk of a hefty fine, potentially up to 6 percent of its global turnover, if found guilty of breaching rules imposed by the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA).

EU industry chief Thierry Breton said on Monday (February 19) he took the decision after analyzing the short video app's risk assessment report and its replies to requests for information.

The DSA, which came into force on February 17, applies to all online platforms. It requires in particular very large online platforms and search engines to do more to tackle illegal online content and risks to public security.

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"Today we open an investigation into TikTok over suspected breach of transparency & obligations to protect minors: Addictive design & screen time limits, rabbit hole effect, age verification, default privacy settings," Breton posted on X on Monday.

A TikTok spokesperson responded: "TikTok has pioneered features and settings to protect teens and keep under 13s off the platform, issues the whole industry is grappling with." 

In a statement the company added: "We'll continue to work with experts and industry to keep young people on TikTok safe, and look forward to now having the opportunity to explain this work in detail to the Commission."

The European Commission said the investigation will focus on the design of TikTok's system, including algorithmic systems which may stimulate behavioral addictions and/or create so-called 'rabbit hole effects.'

This effect has become increasingly cited in reference to internet users being transported by a single video to extremely engrossing and time-consuming topics, and often becoming drawn towards extreme content. It originates as a figure of speech from Lewis Carroll's 1865 classic novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Its opening chapter entitled 'Down the Rabbit-Hole' sees the title character follow a white rabbit into his burrow, where she is transported to the bizarre and nonsensical world of Wonderland.

The Commission will also probe whether TikTok has put in place appropriate and proportionate measures to ensure a high level of privacy, safety and security for minors. As well as the issue of protecting minors, the Commission is looking at whether TikTok provides a reliable database on advertisements on its platform so that researchers can scrutinize potential online risks.

This marks the second DSA investigation after Elon Musk's social media platform X found itself in the EU's crosshairs in December last year.

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