The European Commission has issued preliminary findings declaring TikTok's addictive design elements a violation of the Digital Services Act, potentially leading to fines up to 6% of its global turnover. The regulator highlighted features like infinite scroll and personalized recommendations that could harm users' wellbeing, especially minors. TikTok plans to challenge the accusations vigorously.
On February 6, 2026, the European Commission released preliminary findings stating that TikTok breaches the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), a 2022 regulation aimed at holding large online platforms accountable for systemic risks. The investigation, launched in February 2024, focused on TikTok's "addictive by design" features, including infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and a highly personalized recommendation system. These elements, the Commission said, constantly reward users with new content, fueling the urge to scroll and shifting the brain into "autopilot mode," which scientific research links to compulsive behavior and reduced self-control.
The findings emphasize risks to physical and mental wellbeing, particularly for children and vulnerable groups. "Social media addiction can have detrimental effects on the developing minds of children and teens," said Henna Virkkunen, the EU's executive vice president for tech sovereignty. "In Europe, we enforce our legislation to protect our children and our citizens online." The Commission noted that TikTok's existing parental controls and screen time limits are insufficient, and the company may need to modify its algorithms, limit infinite scroll, and enhance safeguards.
If confirmed, TikTok could face fines of up to 6% of its annual global turnover. The platform, owned by China's ByteDance, responded strongly: "The Commission’s preliminary findings present a categorically false and entirely meritless depiction of our platform, and we will take whatever steps are necessary to challenge these findings through every means available to us," a spokesperson said. TikTok will review the investigation files and submit a response.
This action follows prior EU scrutiny, including a 530 million euro fine from Irish regulators in 2024 for data transfers to China and probes into advertising practices. In the US, TikTok's operations were restructured in 2024 via a spin-off deal to address national security concerns, leading to algorithmic changes and user exodus.
The EU's move aligns with global efforts to curb social media's impact on youth. Spain announced a ban for under-16s this week, following Australia's December 2025 restriction on 10 apps for minors. France and the UK are considering similar measures. Social media expert Matt Navarra described this as the start of a "global reckoning" on "dark design" in apps, noting TikTok's influence as a blueprint for platforms like Instagram and YouTube.
