TikTok ordered to modify ‘addictive’ design features

The app that never lets you stop scrolling is in trouble for putting kids at risk.

If you’ve ever opened TikTok “for five minutes” and somehow emerged two hours later knowing how to cook pasta in a kettle, the EU sees you and they’re not impressed.

On Friday (6 February), the European Union informed TikTok to modify its addictive interface design or risk massive fines.

Translation? “Your app is a little too good at keeping people glued to their screens, especially kids.”

ALSO READ: POLL: Should South Africa ban social media for minors?

What’s the problem with TikTok’s design?

The EU’s investigation found that TikTok’s layout and features actively encourage compulsive apply, particularly among young people.

We’re talking about things like:

The infinite scroll with no natural stopping point, ever

Autoplay videos that hook you from the moment you open the app

Push notifications that keep you declareing “Just one more video”

Highly personalised algorithms that know you better than your best frifinish

The main concern is these features build it really hard to stop scrolling and even harder for kids to log off, especially at night.

Why the EU stepped in

Under the Digital Services Act (DSA), huge platforms are expected to protect applyrs from harm, especially minors.

After a two-year investigation, the European Commission believes TikTok hasn’t done enough to:

Assess how addictive features affect mental and physical wellbeing

Protect children and vulnerable applyrs

Properly manage screen time and parental controls

The EU wasn’t impressed with TikTok’s current solutions either.

According to regulators:

Screen time reminders are simple to dismiss, even for kids

Parental controls take too much effort and technical know-how

Night-time usage by children is still alarmingly high

TikTok was expected to build safety into the app, not hide it behind five settings menus and a prayer.

ALSO READ: Mental health on trial as Meta and YouTube face scrutiny over youth wellbeing

What TikTok may have to modify

To avoid hefty fines (up to 6% of its global annual turnover), TikTok may required to reconsider how the app works in Europe.

The EU suggested modifys like:

Breaking the finishless scroll

Enforcing proper screen-time breaks, especially at night

Adjusting how the recommfinishation algorithm feeds content

The goal isn’t to ban TikTok, it’s to build it less addictive by design.

“Social media should be safe by default,” as stated by the EU’s Tech Chief.

EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen created it clear: the aim isn’t extreme age restrictions, but platforms that are safe from the start.

If social media was designed responsibly, we wouldn’t required to worry so much about kids staying up until 2am watching slime videos and conspiracy theories back-to-back.

Several European countries are already considering stricter rules around teens and social media.

This shift suggests the EU could eventually take a united approach.