The European Commission on Friday asked the social network TikTok to change its interface deemed “addictive”. The platform is accused of not respecting community rules on digital technology.
Published on: 02/06/2026 - 2:30 p.m. Modified on: 02/06/2026 - 2:30 p.m.
The European Commission asked the TikTok application on Friday February 6 to change its "addictive" interface, accused of violating European digital legislation, under penalty of being exposed to heavy fines.
The social network, known for its ultra-short videos very popular with young people, immediately contested the “completely false” image given by Brussels of its platform. And promised to contest his conclusions, “with all the means” at his disposal.
The EU, which has the most powerful legal arsenal in the world to regulate digital technology, opened an investigation into TikTok two years ago.
In its preliminary conclusions, it points to “addictive features” which “could harm the physical and mental well-being” of its users, particularly minors, encouraged to scroll through content and consult their phones “compulsively”, including at night.
Three features, accused of being particularly "addictive", are in its sights: "scrolling", or the uninterrupted scrolling of content on its application; automatic launch of videos; repeated sending of push notifications.
“Protect our minors”
“TikTok must act and change its interface in Europe in order to protect our minors,” urged the European Commissioner for Digital, Henna Virkkunen. Otherwise, the company could ultimately be exposed to a fine of up to 6% of its annual global turnover.
“It’s not as if TikTok doesn’t recognize this addictive risk at all,” explained a European official. According to him, TikTok clearly mentions the addictive potential of its application and “evaluates these risks”.
See alsoToo young to scroll? Let’s talk about it with L. Miller, F. Didier and F. Saltiel
But this remains insufficient in view of European digital laws, he stressed. These same rules which are regularly criticized by the Trump administration and the bosses of social networks, Elon Musk in the lead.
Towards an age restriction?
Brussels criticizes TikTok in particular for not taking into account "important indicators on the compulsive use of the application", such as the time spent on the platform by children during the night.
The European Commission believes that the app's features to limit screen time are too "easy to ignore" and regrets that parental controls require too many steps to set up.
The EU stressed that the platform had so far been "very cooperative" with its investigations. TikTok's reaction on Friday contrasts with this observation.
This Brussels investigation comes at a time when several European capitals are considering the possibility of banning social networks for children or young adolescents.
Spain and France are examining proposals in this direction, provoking very strong reactions from the bosses of the large platforms.
Also read: Ban on social networks for minors: what is France proposing?
During a press conference on Friday, European Commissioner Henna Virkkunen said that the objective was above all to make these platforms safe for all users, including children. “Social media should be designed to be so safe that there should be no need to impose such strict age restrictions,” she said.
TikTok is also being targeted by another EU investigation into accusations of foreign interference in the Romanian presidential elections. This is still in progress.
With AFP
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