The European Union (EU) has taken a significant step towards regulating social media’s impact on users’ mental health by launching a second investigation into TikTok. Following an ongoing investigation into various aspects of the video sharing platform’s DSA compliance, the EU is now zeroing in on TikTok’s “Task and Reward Lite” feature.
This feature, which allows users to earn points for engaging with content, has raised concerns over potential addictive behavior and negative impacts on young users’ mental health. With the EU’s Digital Services Act imposing on tech companies the requirement to proactively identify and mitigate systemic risks to user safety, such as addictive designs, TikTok faces scrutiny for its potential oversight in the launch of this new feature.
The EU’s concerns over the “Task and Reward Lite” feature are well-founded. Extensive research indicates that excessive social media use, particularly among minors, can lead to negative mental health outcomes, including addiction, anxiety, depression, and low attention spans. The gamified system of earning points and rewards that TikTok’s feature employs may further contribute to the risk of addictive behavior.
The EU’s regulatory actions demonstrate a clear commitment to upholdinguser safety standards. Following TikTok’s failure to submit a requested risk assessment report for the feature, the EU has expressed its suspicion of a potential violation of the Digital Services Act. The imposition of fines, reaching up to 6% of a company’s global annual turnover, serves as a powerful incentive for firms to prioritize regulatory compliance.
TikTok’s situation highlights the importance of regulatory bodies taking a proactive approach towards user safety, particularly concerning the potential mental health risks of social media. The EU leads the charge, but other jurisdictions should consider adopting similar regulatory frameworks.
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