The EU is essentially making an attempt to revamp the best way we work together with social media, transferring past easy content material moderation to focus on the precise “skeleton” of those apps. For the primary time, Brussels is treating addictive design—particularly options like infinite scrolling—not simply as a nuisance, however as a authorized danger below the Digital Providers Act (DSA).
The European Fee has signaled that TikTok’s present interface is inherently addictive, notably for youthful customers. To stay compliant and keep away from large monetary penalties, the platform is being pressured to:
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Kill the “Scroll”: Change the limitless feed with outlined stopping factors.
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Implement Breaks: Transfer from non-compulsory reminders to strict, necessary screen-time interruptions.
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Algorithmic Transparency: Overhaul the advice engines that preserve customers looped into the app for hours.
The EU is focusing on the addictive design in social media apps. (Picture: DALL-E)
A Domino Impact for Large Tech
Whereas TikTok is the instant goal, this isn’t an remoted case; the EU is basically making a blueprint for the complete trade. Meta (Fb and Instagram) is already below an identical microscope, and X (previously Twitter) has beforehand confronted transparency audits.
The core of the argument is that “surveillance-based promoting” depends on conserving eyes on screens at any value. By labeling these design selections as a risk to psychological well being, the EU is forcing a pivot from engagement-first to safety-first structure.
What Occurs Subsequent?
Proper now we’re in a high-stakes negotiation part; TikTok has pushed again, calling the findings “meritless,” and can doubtless struggle the costs in court docket. Nonetheless, the stakes are large: non-compliance might result in fines of as much as 6% of worldwide annual income.
Whereas we received’t see these apps change in a single day, the “Wild West” of persuasive design is ending. Future updates will doubtless characteristic extra guide person controls and fewer “rabbit gap” options as platforms scramble to fulfill these new European requirements.
