The European Commission has charged TikTok with failing to protect users’ mental health, after finding its algorithm exposes young and vulnerable users to repetitive content that could worsen eating disorders and anxiety. The preliminary ruling, issued on Friday, said TikTok’s safeguards against “rabbit-hole effects” were ineffective, with the platform’s design keeping users engaged by serving similar content even after users indicated disinterest.
Officials said the investigation focused on legal content, where repeated exposure to themes like body image or isolation could damage mental health. TikTok, which has 189 million EU users, argued its policies prohibit harmful content and that millions use its filters, but the commission said these measures do not prevent the cumulative impact of the algorithm. The Molly Rose Foundation welcomed the findings and called for UK regulator Ofcom to investigate.
The case is part of a wider probe under the Digital Services Act, which requires large platforms to prevent a range of harms. The commission has already found TikTok in breach over “addictive design” features. TikTok can now respond to the charges and may change its recommender system to avoid a fine, which could reach 6% of global turnover if the ruling is upheld.
