On a Friday in early November, Brussels told TikTok that the way its For You feed chooses what to show people has crossed a line the European Union is no longer willing to tolerate. The European Commission's preliminary view is that the algorithm keeps returning users to what they have already engaged with, even when that material pulls them toward sadness, isolation or distorted images of the body, and that the platform's adjustments have not gone far enough. TikTok calls the findings fundamentally inaccurate, and the matter now moves through a process in which the company can answer before a
EU Orders TikTok to Overhaul 'Harmful' For You Feed Under Digital Services Act, Threatens Fines
On a Friday in early November, Brussels told TikTok that the way its For You feed chooses what to show people has crossed a line the European Union is no longer willing to tolerate. The European Commission's preliminary view is that the algorithm keeps returning users to what they have already engaged with, even when that material pulls them toward sadness, isolation or distorted images of the body, and that the platform's adjustments have not gone far enough. TikTok calls the findings fundamentally inaccurate, and the matter now moves through a process in which the company can answer before any final ruling. It is one more chapter in a broader reckoning, across Europe and beyond, over how much responsibility platforms bear for what young people are quietly made to see.
On Friday, the European Commission told TikTok to change the algorithm behind its For You feed, and warned that large fines could follow if it does not. The Commission's preliminary view is that the feed breaches the EU's Digital Services Act, because it keeps serving users more of what they have already watched or liked, even when that content is distressing.
Brussels calls the result a "rabbit holes" effect. Henna Virkkunen, the Commission's Executive Vice President for tech sovereignty, said every scroll or like brings more of the same, drawing users, minors included, into patterns they cannot easily escape. The EU acknowledges TikTok has made some changes, but judges them insufficient.
TikTok rejected the findings as "fundamentally inaccurate," insisting it has a strong record of protecting its community and gives users direct control over what they see.
The finding is preliminary. TikTok will have a chance to respond before any final decision, and if the problem persists, fines could reach 6 percent of revenue. The case follows earlier action on addictive features and risks to children, and it sits alongside a similar order against Meta. What comes next is TikTok's reply, and whether regulators demand a real redesign of how the system recommends content.
On Friday, the European Commission told TikTok to change the algorithm that powers its For You feed, and warned that the company could face large fines if it does not. The Commission's preliminary view is that the feed breaches the EU's Digital Services Act.
The complaint centers on what Brussels calls a "rabbit holes" effect. According to the Commission, the system serves users more of whatever they have already watched or liked, even when that material is triggering. The Commission says this produces "endless" exposure to content about sadness, isolation or body image.
Henna Virkkunen, the Commission's Executive Vice President who oversees tech sovereignty, put it plainly in a statement. Every scroll or like, she said, brings more of the same, leading users down rabbit holes they cannot easily escape. She described the preliminary findings as showing, once again, that TikTok must do more to protect users' well-being, minors included.
The EU acknowledged that TikTok has already made some changes to reduce the risks the Commission identified. Its assessment is that those changes fall short.
TikTok rejected the findings outright. It called them "fundamentally inaccurate" and said they distort the platform's architecture and its commitment to user safety. A company spokesperson said TikTok has a strong record of protecting its community and gives users direct, intuitive control over their content experience.
The finding is preliminary, and the process is not finished. TikTok will get a chance to respond before the Commission issues a final decision. If the issue is not resolved, regulators say the fines on the Chinese-owned platform could rise by as much as 6 percent. The editorial summary of the case describes that figure as a share of revenue or global turnover.
This is not the first time the Commission has gone after the platform. In February, it found that TikTok had not adequately assessed how its addictive features could harm the physical and mental well-being of users, including minors and vulnerable adults. That round concentrated on features such as the impact of notifications. A senior EU official told the AFP news agency that Friday's action differs because it targets the algorithm itself. In July, the bloc separately accused TikTok of exposing children to risks including cyberbullying and predatory behaviour.
TikTok is not alone under scrutiny. In the same month, Brussels ordered Meta to change the feeds on Facebook and Instagram, as part of an investigation into whether those platforms violate the Digital Services Act.
The move also fits a wider pattern. Recent efforts in countries including France, Spain and England have focused on shielding minors from predatory behaviour, cyberbullying, worsening mental health and eating disorders, and several countries have introduced social media bans for children under 15.
What to watch next is TikTok's formal response, and whether the Commission's final decision demands a redesign of the recommendation system rather than adjustments around its edges.
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