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The European Commission has raised objections against TikTok, arguing that the platform violates the Digital Services Act due to risks associated with the recommendation system on the “For You” page.
The preliminary conclusions of the investigation challenge TikTok’s insufficient assessment of its algorithm’s effects and demand operational changes, including the information used to select videos shown to users. At the center of the criticism is the mechanism that proposes content increasingly similar to what the user interacts with.
TikTok For You algorithm: why it matters
According to Brussels, this continuous exposure can be harmful regarding sensitive topics such as sadness, isolation, or body image, negatively affecting mental health, especially among minors and vulnerable adults. The Commission argues that TikTok has not adequately analyzed the risks linked to these recommendation spirals nor adopted sufficient measures to mitigate them.
The effectiveness of available controls is also challenged: the “Not interested” button may not be enough to change the proposed content. The issue concerns both risk assessment and users’ ability to influence recommendations.
The European request focuses on the signals that feed TikTok’s stream, from watch time to the weight of preferences expressed by users. The Commission asks that the “For You” page give greater importance to users’ explicit preferences and stop using viewing time as an indicator for recommending content.
More accessible controls, periodic algorithm audits, and interventions on the signals used by the system, as well as the tools provided to users, are also required. These are preliminary conclusions; if TikTok does not resolve the issues and the Commission confirms the allegations, ByteDance could receive a fine of up to 6% of its annual global revenue.
What changes and what are the effects
TikTok has rejected the accusations, calling them inaccurate and stating that they represent a distorted view of the platform’s architecture and its commitment to safety. The company claims to offer users intuitive tools to control their content experience.
The procedure is part of the European investigation launched at the beginning of 2024. In February, objections had already been raised regarding the app’s design, potentially causing addiction, while in July attention focused on the protection of minors and privacy settings for younger accounts. The recommendation algorithm represents a further front of verification regarding compliance with DSA obligations.
Source and further reading on TikTok For You algorithm: original article.
* Content created with the assistance of artificial intelligence systems.