Why TikTok’s Addictive Design Is Now a Regulatory Problem

The European Commission’s preliminary assessment finds that TikTok’s addictive design—such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and personalized recommendations—may breach the Digital Services Act by inadequately assessing and mitigating harms to minors. Regulators argue current safeguards (screen-time tools and parental controls) are ineffective and suggest structural changes like time-limited scrolling and meaningful breaks, especially at night. This action aligns with a broader shift toward stricter social media accountability in Europe and elsewhere, and could result in formal non-compliance decisions and fines up to 6% of TikTok’s global turnover.