• EU regulators charge TikTok for breaching online content rules with its addictive design.
• The platform faces a potential fine of up to 6% of ByteDance's global revenue.
• TikTok is criticized for not adequately assessing the impacts of its addictive features on users.
• Possible solutions include disabling infinite scroll and implementing screen time breaks.
• EU officials stress the importance of protecting minors and ensuring online safety.

The European Union has charged TikTok with breaching its online safety rules, centering on the platform's addictive design that includes features such as autoplay and infinite scroll, which reportedly compromise user well-being. The European Commission's preliminary findings suggest these features have not been properly assessed for their potential harm to users, particularly children and vulnerable adults. TikTok faces fines of up to 6% of ByteDance’s global turnover if it does not comply with the Commission’s guidelines, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

The investigation began under the Digital Services Act (DSA), which mandates that large online platforms must tackle illegal and harmful content. The Commission indicated that TikTok's failure to implement effective measures, such as screen time management tools and parental controls, exacerbates the risks associated with its addictive features. A TikTok spokesperson has labeled the Commission's findings as "meritless," asserting that the report misrepresents the app's impact, as stated in reports from BBC and South China Morning Post.

EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen noted that TikTok must implement significant changes to its design, such as disabling infinite scroll and revising its content algorithms, to mitigate its addictive effects. These design elements have been criticized for fostering compulsive use, further complicating users' ability to regulate their screen time. Sources indicate the Commission's rigorous oversight aims to protect children from the negative impacts of social media, particularly given research showing high usage rates among minors, according to Reuters, South China Morning Post, and BBC.