What happened
The European Commission has alleged that TikTok's recommendation algorithm creates a "rabbit hole effect" on users and breaches its online platform rules. In an announcement on Friday, regulators said the algorithm can harm users through "endless and repeated exposure" to content related to sadness, isolation, or body image.
What the preliminary findings say
Months earlier, the Commission had declared TikTok's design too "addictive." TikTok has since implemented controls meant to mitigate the algorithm's rabbit hole effect, but the Commission's preliminary findings suggest those measures are not effective.
What comes next
TikTok must now change the design of its For You page. The preliminary findings are a stage in a formal infringement process, and the company has an opportunity to respond and make its case to regulators. If changes are not made, penalties could follow.
