The European Commission has accused TikTok of breaking the European Union's digital rules, saying its For You feed traps users in endless video streams that can harm their mental health. Preliminary findings sent to the platform on Friday, 6 November, say TikTok failed to properly assess how its recommendation system affects users.

What the Commission found

The findings focus on what regulators call the "rabbit hole effect". TikTok's algorithm, the Commission said, repeatedly serves users content about sadness, isolation and body image, and the accumulation of such material can damage mental health, particularly for minors and vulnerable adults. Controls such as a "not interested" button exist, but the Commission considers them ineffective. It wants TikTok to redesign the feed, relying more on users' explicit preferences, making controls easier to use, and testing its algorithm regularly. The Commission suggests TikTok stop using viewing time as a recommendation signal.

TikTok disputes the findings

TikTok said the Commission's findings are "fundamentally inaccurate and distort our platform's architecture and our commitment to user safety". The Commission's Executive Vice-President for tech sovereignty, Henna Virkkunen, said: "Every time a user scrolls or 'likes' a video on TikTok, the algorithm serves more of the same leading users down rabbit holes they cannot easily escape from."

What happens next

The findings are preliminary and do not prejudge the outcome. TikTok can examine the Commission's investigation file and reply in writing, while the European Board for Digital Services is consulted. If confirmed, the Commission can issue a non-compliance decision and fine TikTok up to 6% of its total worldwide annual turnover. It is the third set of preliminary findings this year, after February's on addictive design and July's on protecting minors, in an investigation opened in February 2024. Ireland's Coimisiún na Meán supported the investigation.