In Europe’s ongoing effort to reshape the digital landscape, attention is increasingly turning to the design choices that keep users online. What once defined success for social platforms—longer viewing times, seamless content flow, and frictionless engagement—is now being examined through a different lens: user wellbeing.
The European Commission has issued a preliminary finding that TikTok’s core design features may breach the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA). Regulators raised concerns that elements such as infinite scrolling and autoplay encourage prolonged use and may contribute to compulsive behavior, particularly among younger users.
Under the DSA, large online platforms are required to assess and mitigate systemic risks linked to their services, including potential harms to mental health and user safety. According to the Commission’s early assessment, TikTok did not sufficiently evaluate these risks or demonstrate that its existing safeguards effectively reduce them.
The decision is not final. The company now has the opportunity to review the findings and present its defense, a standard step in EU regulatory proceedings. The outcome will depend on whether TikTok can show that its risk assessments, safety tools, and design choices meet the law’s requirements.
If the Commission ultimately determines that the platform is non-compliant, the consequences could be significant. The Digital Services Act allows for penalties of up to 6% of a company’s global annual revenue, underscoring the scale of regulatory authority the EU has granted itself over large technology firms.
The case reflects a broader shift in how digital platforms are governed. European regulators are moving beyond content moderation alone and toward the structural mechanics of attention—how interfaces are built, how algorithms prioritize material, and how engagement is engineered. The focus is not only on what users see, but on how long they stay and why.
For technology companies, the implications extend well beyond a single platform. Features that have become standard across the industry—endless feeds, automated playback, and personalized recommendation loops—could face greater scrutiny if they are seen to create systemic risks.
At the same time, policymakers are balancing enforcement with due process. The preliminary nature of the findings signals that the Commission is building its case carefully, aware that early DSA decisions will shape expectations for the entire sector.
For users, the case highlights a growing debate about the relationship between digital convenience and digital control. As platforms refine the tools that capture attention, regulators are asking whether design itself should carry responsibility for its effects.
The final outcome may take time. But regardless of the decision, the message is already clear: in Europe’s evolving digital rulebook, engagement alone is no longer enough. Platforms are increasingly expected to demonstrate that the systems designed to hold attention also protect the people behind the screens.
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Sources Reuters, European Commission, Bloomberg, Financial Times, Politico Europe, The Guardian