WORLDTECHCommission preliminarily finds TikTok in breach of DSA over For You feed
The European Commission has preliminarily concluded that TikTok breaches the Digital Services Act through the rabbit hole effect of the recommender system behind its For You feed. The findings concern how the design of the platform can repeatedly expose users to potentially harmful content.
What the Commission has preliminarily found
The Commission's assessment is preliminary, which means it is an initial view rather than a final decision. It concerns the operation of TikTok's recommender system within the For You feed, which presents users with a continuous stream of personalised videos.
According to the Commission, that stream also includes videos related to mental health struggles and body image.
How the rabbit hole effect develops
The algorithm behind the feed responds to user behaviour: the more a person interacts with a certain type of content, the more similar material it serves up. The Commission refers to this pattern as the rabbit hole effect.
The Commission considers such a design harmful when endless, repeated exposure involves content about sadness, isolation or body image. Such rabbit holes can have a detrimental impact on users' mental health, particularly that of vulnerable adults and minors.
Focus on risk assessment and mitigation
The preliminary findings centre on how TikTok assesses the risks its service poses and which measures it takes to mitigate them. The Commission is therefore examining whether the platform has identified and responded to the harms linked to its recommender system.
Open questions
- Will the Commission confirm its preliminary findings in a final decision?
- Which measures will TikTok be required to take in response?