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The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, has issued a stern warning to TikTok regarding its “Task and Reward Program” within the TikTok Lite application, expressing concerns over potential addictive effects and inadequate age verification measures.
TikTok Lite, a recent offering by the Chinese social media company ByteDance, has introduced a feature allowing users aged 18 and older to earn rewards by watching videos and completing specific actions. However, the EU has raised alarms about the risks associated with this initiative, particularly regarding the addictive nature of the platform and the vulnerability of children due to insufficient age verification mechanisms.
In response to these concerns, the European Commission has given TikTok a strict deadline of 24 hours to provide a comprehensive risk assessment report for TikTok Lite. Failure to comply may result in fines, with TikTok facing additional scrutiny until May 3 to furnish requested information.
This latest development follows the EU’s ongoing investigation into TikTok’s compliance with regulations pertaining to the protection of minors, advertising transparency, and the management of addictive design and harmful content. Margrethe Vestager, EU Antitrust Chief, emphasized the responsibility of online platforms to assess and mitigate potential risks faced by users, underscoring the importance of compliance with the Digital Services Act.
TikTok Lite’s rewards program, which incentivizes increased screen time through points-based incentives, has drawn criticism from EU officials. Thierry Breton, EU Industry Chief, highlighted concerns about the potential adverse effects of excessive screen time on mental health, likening TikTok Lite to potentially addictive substances.
Under the Digital Services Act, very large online platforms like TikTok, catering to over 45 million average active users in the EU, are subject to stringent regulations aimed at combating illegal and harmful content.
Breton warned that unless TikTok provides compelling evidence of the safety of TikTok Lite, the EU stands ready to implement interim measures, including the suspension of the program, to mitigate potential harm to users.
