In Europe, the European Commission is holding TikTok accountable by demanding the redesign of an interface deemed addictive, under pressure from a strengthened regulatory framework spearheaded by Henna Virkkunen, among others. From Europe to the US, restrictions on access for minors and legal disputes are redefining the rules of the attention economy, between compliance, product ethics and performance.
In Europe, where according to the DSA, very large platforms are liable to fines of up to 6% of their annual global turnover, the European Commission asked the TikTok app to change an “addictive” interface on February 6, 2026. TikTok is accused of violating the DSA. This follows an investigation into the ultra-short video social network that began 2 years ago. Brussels criticises “addictive features that could harm the physical and mental well-being” of app users, particularly minors, who are encouraged to scroll through content and check their phones “compulsively”.
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Article authors
Sophie Baqué
Chief Editor of mind Retail