The European Commission says that TikTok's algorithm may harm users' mental health. TikTok constantly shows users videos that may be related to mental health.
The more a user watches certain content, the more TikTok recommends it. If the content is related to, for example, sadness or appearance, it may be harmful to users. This is particularly dangerous for young people and adults in vulnerable states.
TikTok's algorithm tracks what a user watches and what they mark as liked. The algorithm then recommends more similar content. Such repetitive content consumption may cause users to feel sadness, anxiety, and dissatisfaction with their bodies.
The European Commission finds that TikTok has not sufficiently cared for users' well-being. The Commission says that TikTok must change its algorithm. For example, users' own preferences should be taken more into account.
If TikTok does not comply with the European Commission's demands, it may receive a hefty fine. The fine could be up to six percent of TikTok's global turnover.
Digital literacy expert Diana Poudel says that TikTok's algorithm can create a strong addiction. She says that other social media platforms use similar algorithms, but TikTok is the most dangerous of them.
Poudel explains that TikTok precisely tracks what users watch and what they mark as liked. This can ultimately affect users' mental health. She adds that parents may not know what their children are seeing on TikTok.