—
Source: Reuters
Summary
TikTok’s app design has been accused by the European Commission of being intentionally addictive, citing features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and its recommendation engine. The commission’s statement does not provide further details or evidence to support the claim. TikTok has not publicly commented on the matter.
Our Reading
The launch follows a familiar script.
TikTok’s addictive design features, such as infinite scroll and autoplay, are nothing new. The app’s recommendation engine, which uses algorithms to serve users content they may like, is also a common practice. The push notifications, which can be intrusive and hard to turn off, are another feature that has been criticized before. The European Commission’s statement is just the latest in a long line of concerns about TikTok’s impact on users’ mental health and well-being.
