Feb 17, 2026 22:00:00

EU moves to ban TikTok's addictive 'infinite scrolling'

The European Commission (EC), the EU's policy enforcement body, has issued a provisional ruling that TikTok's addictive design violates the Digital Services Act (DSA).

Commission preliminarily finds TikTok's addictive design in breach of the Digital Services Act | European Commission
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_26_312

The EU moves to kill infinite scrolling – POLITICO
https://www.politico.eu/article/tiktok-meta-facebook-instagram-brussels-kill-infinite-scrolling/

On February 6, 2026, local time, the EC issued a preliminary ruling that TikTok's addictive design violates the DSA. The EC's 'addictive design' includes TikTok's 'infinite scrolling,' 'autoplay,' 'push notifications,' and 'highly personalized recommendation system.'

The EC's investigation preliminarily found that 'TikTok did not adequately assess how its addictive design could harm the physical and mental health of its users, including minors and vulnerable adults.'

For example, certain design features on TikTok constantly 'reward' users with new content, stimulating the urge to keep scrolling and putting users' brains into 'autopilot mode,' which scientific studies have shown can lead to compulsive behavior and reduce users' self-control.

The EC also found that in its assessment, TikTok ignored important indicators of compulsive app use, such as the amount of time minors spend on TikTok overnight, how often users open the app, and other potential indicators.

The EC pointed out that TikTok has failed to implement reasonable, appropriate and effective measures to mitigate the risks arising from addictive design. For example, TikTok offers tools to combat addictive design, such as screen time management tools and parental control tools. However, the EC pointed out that these do not effectively mitigate the risks arising from TikTok's addictive design.

The EC said screen time management tools are easily disabled and 'may not be effective' in helping users reduce or control their use of TikTok. Similarly, parental control tools 'may not be effective' because they require additional time and skill for parents to configure them.

At the time of writing, the EC believes TikTok needs to make fundamental changes to its service, including disabling key addictive features such as 'infinite scrolling' over time, introducing effective 'screen time breaks' including overnight breaks, and adjusting its recommendation system.

This tentative decision is based on a thorough investigation, including an analysis of TikTok's risk assessment report, internal data, TikTok's responses to multiple requests for information, extensive scientific research, and interviews with experts in multiple fields, including behavioral addictions.

TikTok has rights to defend itself against this provisional decision, including reviewing the documents in the EC's investigation file and submitting a written response to the preliminary findings, as well as consulting the independent advisory group, the European Digital Services Committee .

If the EC's opinion is ultimately approved, the EC may issue a non-compliance decision, which could result in fines of up to 6% of TikTok's annual global turnover, depending on the nature, severity, recurrence and duration of the violations.