TikTok’s For You page needs to change, says the EU

The European Commission claims TikTok's recommendation algorithm can harm users with 'endless and repeated exposure' to content related to sadness, isolation, or body image, and has ordered the platform to change the design of its For You feed or face fines of up to 6% of its global annual turnover. The Commission alleges that TikTok's algorithm creates a 'rabbit hole effect' that users cannot easily escape from. TikTok has implemented controls to mitigate the effect, but the Commission says they are not effective. The US is also raising concerns about child safety on the platform, with lawmakers and lawsuits targeting the company. This is the first time the Commission has cited a recommendation algorithm as the reason for a breach of the Digital Services Act, a set of rules that hold tech companies accountable for their impact on users. The Commission has previously targeted several other companies, including X, Meta, Temu, and AliExpress, for allegedly violating the regulations. TikTok must change its algorithm to protect users' well-being, including minors, according to the Commission's executive vice president, Henna Virkkunen. The changes must be made to prevent further fines and ensure compliance with the Digital Services Act.