TikTok was charged on Friday (February 6) with breaching EU online content rules over what the bloc's regulator said were its addictive features and was told to change the design of its app or risk a fine of as much as 6% of owner ByteDance's global turnover.

The EU watchdog's charges focus on TikTok's addictive design which includes features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and its highly personalized recommender system.

TikTok, whose algorithm is driven by the understanding of a user's interest and has been key to the social media app's global success, criticized the European Commission charges.

The regulatory move underscores the European Union's crackdown on Big Tech which has drawn criticism from the U.S. government over censorship and led to threats of tariffs.

The Commission set out its charges after a year-long investigation under the Digital Services Act (DSA) which requires large online platforms to do more to tackle illegal and harmful content.

The Commission, which acts as the EU tech enforcer, cited the platform's generation of new content to constantly reward users which fuels the urge to keep scrolling and shift users' brains into autopilot mode as an example of an addictive feature.

The EU regulator said TikTok did not adequately assess how these features could harm the physical and mental wellbeing of its users, including children and vulnerable adults.

It accused TikTok of disregarding important indicators of compulsive use of the app, such as the time that minors spend on it at night and the frequency with which users open the app.

The EU watchdog said TikTok seems to fail to implement reasonable, proportionate and effective measures such as screen time management tools and parental control tools to mitigate risks and it needs to change the basic design.

Meta platforms' Facebook and Instagram were charged with DSA breaches in October last year over their so-called dark patterns or deceptive interface designs among others.

EU regulators also asked Snapchat, YouTube, Apple and Google for information on their age verification systems and how they prevent minors from accessing illegal products and harmful material.

TikTok can ask to see the Commission's documents and provide a written response before the watchdog issues a decision.

The company last year settled charges of infringing a DSA requirement to publish an advertisement repository allowing researchers and users to detect scam advertisements.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

TikTok hit with charges of breaching EU online content rules, app may have to change

VIDEO SHOWS: SOUNDBITES OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION SPOKESPERSON / FILES OF TIKTOK SOCIAL MEDIA AND USERS

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (FEBRUARY 6, 2026) (EUROPEAN UNION - Access All)

1. EUROPEAN SPOKESPERSON PAULA PINHO AND THOMAS REGNIER STANDING IN NEWSROOM

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION SPOKESPERSON, THOMAS REGNIER, SAYING:

"TikTok's addictive design is in breach of the Digital Services Act. This is the Commission's preliminary view after a thorough investigation."

3. JOURNALIST ASKING QUESTION

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION SPOKESPERSON, THOMAS REGNIER, SAYING:

"The measures that TikTok has in place are simply not enough. Screen time management and parental controls are not properly working on TikTok. TikTok did not properly assess how its addictive features can harm users, and they did not implement effective measures to mitigate such risks. TikTok now has a right to defend themselves, if they don't do this properly, the Commission may decide to issue a non-compliance decision leading to 6% of the company's global annual turnover as fines."

5. JOURNALIST ASKING QUESTION

6. PINHO AND REGNIER STANDING IN NEWSROOM

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (FILE - DECEMBER 8, 2025) (REUTERS - Access All)

7. PERSON OPENING TIKTOK APP

8. PERSON SCROLLING THROUGH TIKTOK

9. PERSON LOOKING AT SCREEN SHOWING SCROLL THROUGH TIKTOK

10. VARIOUS OF REFLECTIONS IN PEOPLE'S EYES WATCHING TIKTOK VIDEOS

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (FILE - MARCH 17, 2023) (REUTERS - Access All)

11. VARIOUS OF PERSON USING TIKTOK APP ON THEIR PHONE

12. VARIOUS OF PERSON USING TIKTOK ON A LAPTOP BROWSER

CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - MARCH 7, 2023) (REUTERS - Access All)

13. VARIOUS OF SIGNAGE AND EXTERIORS OF TIKTOK HEADQUARTERS