The protection of web users and members of social networks and large platforms, especially if they are minors, is at the center of the attention of the European Union, which has recently launched new regulations on transparency and protection of minorswhich must be respected by all companies. At the center of the crosshairs, for suspected violations, is TikTok.
The European Union, more precisely the European Commission, has launched an investigation into the social network, which is particularly appreciated and frequented by very young people. The critical aspects of TikTok would be different and, if they were confirmed, the company would have to promptly intervene to resolve them. Let’s find out what it is.
TikTok, the European Commission’s investigation into the platform
TikTok would be violating the Digital Services Act (DSA), the legislation that was recently approved by the European Union regarding the protection of user rights, the protection of minor users and the promotion of transparency.
This was announced by Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services, who with a post on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter, declared that An investigation has been opened into TikTok for suspected policy violations. He then listed all the critical issues identified on the platform which, if ascertained, will soon have to be removed.
What arouses suspicion is, first of all, the structure of the application, which was created to ensure that users can spend as much time as possible on the platform and are always encouraged to start it, through a system of notifications that announce new content. A structure which, the EU claims, it could create a sort of addictionespecially in younger children.
TikTok and the rabbit hole effect that the EU wants to eliminate
Another element that is under accusation, as stated by Breton, And The algorithm in TikTokwhich it would be able to produce a ‘rabbit hole’ effecti.e. exposure only to similar content, with difficulty finding different information.
The TikTok algorithm, in fact, tends to offer users only content that is potentially interesting to them, based on previous views and interactions. This, however, could provoke a lack of diversification among the videos displayed on the platform and a difficulty in accessing varied information.
Doubts, then, about TikTok’s real commitment to ensuring that minors do not sign up to the platform or that they do so only after obtaining parental consent and on the system default settingsconsidered poorly protective of personal data.
The company stated that it cares about the protection of minors, for whom it has already implemented various features that aim to protect their privacy and presence on the platform. However, should the European Commission’s investigation ascertain the suspected violations, TikTok may have to pay a fine and should take immediate action to remedy its shortcomings.
To know more: What TikTok is and how it works: from profile to content production