EU says TikTok's 'addictive design' harms children
(www.dw.com)
from Sepia@mander.xyz to world@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2026 09:30
https://mander.xyz/post/47006340
from Sepia@mander.xyz to world@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2026 09:30
https://mander.xyz/post/47006340
cross-posted from: mander.xyz/post/47006290
TikTok’s “addictive design” is in breach of European Union law, according to preliminary findings published by the European Commission on Friday.
It said addictive features included infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications and TikTok’s own “highly personalized” content recommendation system.
The European Commission also alleged TikTok failed in adequately assessing “how these addictive features could harm the physical and mental wellbeing of its users, including minors and vulnerable adults.”
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#world
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It harms all of its users
It indirectly harms people who don’t use it, too.
I watched my ex who was struggling with depression fall into a 3 hour tik tok/reel binge every night. She was like a zombie. I try to avoid this style of media. It seems to be to be designs to grab and hold your attention. Scary shit.
Yeah, I left most media that use their algorithm like a farmer that makes foie gras.
I love YouTube and follow some great channels. When I open the app it opens right up to a reel. I need to figure out how to turn that off.
You can’t, as far as I know. I’ve switched to just using my web browser and I bookmark the channels I watch(specifically their “videos” tab). I open up 3-4 channels at a time and see if they have anything new and go from there. Been doing this for 10 years now because the YouTube algorithm is balls.
Use alternative mobile clients and desktop Frontends like pipepipe and freetube. They let you watch what you actually want to watch without distractions.
I have tried to get… addicted to this short form video thing (through IG reels, and Youtube shorts, I don’t have tiktok), without success. I just don’t see what people find in it. Sure, it’s fun for about 5 minutes, no more than that. I use IG to follow my favorite artists only, and youtube for recipes, philosophical conversations, NDE reports, and other metaphysical stuff. I can’t stand people dancing or AI cats baking bread.
My YouTube shorts are usually quick lore videos of some game I’ve been playing, like Halo.
My Instagram shorts are full of ethots and tiddie goth gfs because I’m weak.
I think lots of us must be weak then lol
I know adults that are addicted to that shit. Like they pull out their phone as soon as they pull up to a stoplight kind of addicted.
Once again the EU being the consumer protection standard.
This seems very likely to be true.
Just children??? I see they do mention adults as well, but come on, that title downplays it.
As does YouTube Shorts and a number of others.