EU says TikTok algorithm may harm users’ mental health

The European Commission has preliminarily found that TikTok may be breaching the Digital Services Act because its recommendation system can steer users into repetitive content-consumption patterns that may harm their mental health, ERR reported on Friday.

TikTok’s feed delivers a continuous stream of personalised videos, including content about mental health and body image. The more a user watches a particular type of content, the more the algorithm recommends similar material. Repeated exposure to themes such as sadness, isolation, weight loss or appearance could harm users, especially vulnerable adults and adolescents.

The Commission said TikTok had not adequately assessed how its algorithm could lead users into harmful patterns or put their wellbeing at risk. It also found that the company had not taken proportionate, reasonable and effective measures to reduce those risks.

Although TikTok has taken some steps to address harmful effects, the Commission said they had not been effective enough. Recommendations to show users a variety of content do not sufficiently address the problem if similar material continues to appear repeatedly. The Commission also said TikTok’s controls give users too little say over what they are shown; selecting “Not interested”, for example, may not be enough to change recommendations.

According to the Commission, the algorithm gives greater weight to watch time than to users’ stated preferences. It said TikTok should rely more on users’ own preferences, avoid treating views of recommended content as a sign of interest, improve user controls and regularly test the algorithm.

“Every time someone watches or likes a TikTok video, the algorithm uses that to draw them into a pattern of repeated content consumption that is not easy to escape,” said Henna Virkkunen, the Commission’s executive vice-president for technological sovereignty, security and democracy. She said the preliminary findings showed TikTok needed to do more to protect users, including minors.

TikTok can review the Commission’s documents and submit a written response. If the findings are confirmed, the Commission could issue a decision requiring the company to comply. A fine could then be imposed, depending on the nature, seriousness, recurrence and duration of the breach, and could reach 6% of the provider’s global annual turnover.

The preliminary findings are part of a formal investigation.