The EU says TikTok must disable “addictive” features such as infinite scrolling, and overhaul its recommendations engine

The European Commission on Friday accused TikTok of deliberately designing its app as “addictive,” calling out features such as infinite scrolling, autoplay and instant notifications, as well as its recommendation engine.

In the preliminary findings of an investigation that sought to determine TikTok’s compliance with the EU’s far-reaching digital services law, the Commission said the short video platform had not “adequately assessed” how its design decisions could harm the well-being of its users, especially minors and vulnerable adults.

The EU’s enforcement arm said the company ignored “important indicators of compulsive app use” such as the time users spend at night and the number of times users open the app.

“By constantly ‘rewarding’ users with new content, some of TikTok’s design features fuel the desire to keep scrolling and switch users’ brains into ‘autopilot mode.’ Scientific research shows this may lead to compulsive behavior and reduce users’ self-control,” the committee wrote in a statement.

The commission said TikTok must change the “fundamental design” of its user interface by disabling features such as infinite scrolling, implementing screen time breaks, and changing its recommendation system.

TikTok did not immediately respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment.

TikTok offers screen time management tools and parental controls, but the European Commission has said these tools don’t do enough to reduce the risks of their addictive design. “Time management tools do not appear to be effective in enabling users to reduce and control their TikTok use because they are easy to reject and create limited friction. Likewise, parental controls may not be effective because they require additional time and skills from parents to implement controls,” the panel wrote.

The allegations against TikTok come as social media platforms deal with increasing scrutiny around the world, with some governments seeking to block young users from accessing social media altogether. In December, Australia forced social media sites to deactivate accounts belonging to users under the age of 16, and the UK and Spain are said to be considering similar measures. France, Denmark, Italy and Norway have taken similar age-restricting measures for social media platforms, and in the United States, 24 states have so far enacted age verification laws.

TikTok recently settled a major lawsuit over social media addiction in the US, and now has time to respond to the European Commission’s preliminary findings. Confirmed violations of the DSA law can face a range of major penalties, including fines of up to 6% of global annual turnover.