EU Regulator Moves to Overhaul TikTok Algorithm Over Mental Health Risks

The European Commission issued a preliminary ruling on Friday charging TikTok with failing to protect user mental health. The regulator found that the platform’s algorithm exposes users to a relentless stream of content that risks worsening anxiety and eating disorders. This action strikes directly at the short-video app’s core business model, which relies on keeping users scrolling for as long as possible.

TikTok serves 189 million users in the European Union. Officials stated that their investigation focused on legal content where individual videos may appear harmless but cause damage through cumulative exposure. The ruling found that TikTok’s safeguards against

rabbit-hole effects

were ineffective. For instance, when a user marked a video about eating patterns as

not interested,

the algorithm continued to serve similar content on diet and body image. Refreshing the feed provided only a temporary break from the repetitive stream.

Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission’s lead official on tech policy, said the algorithm serves more of the same content every time a user scrolls or likes a video.

TikTok needs to step up its efforts to protect users’ wellbeing, including those of minors,

Virkkunen said. She noted that the current system leads users down paths they cannot easily escape. The commission wants TikTok to redesign its ForYou feed to give users greater control over the content they see.

A commission official told reporters that the investigation addresses a business model focused mainly on engagement.

We are addressing a business model,

the official said, noting that such a focus can create risks for minors and vulnerable adults. The findings are part of a broader probe launched in February 2024 under the Digital Services Act. This law obliges large internet companies to prevent harms ranging from disinformation to mental health damage. The commission previously found TikTok violated EU rules over its