On Monday, the European Commission opened proceedings against Bytedance over the task and reward system TikTok Lite uses to encourage its use. Within this system, users receive points for completing certain tasks, such as watching videos or inviting friends.
The Commission is concerned that the system has been launched without prior careful assessment and minimization of risks, particularly in terms of user dependency. It believes that “there is a risk of serious damage to the mental health of users”.
Brussels has opened another proceeding with TikTok
Internet and PC
On Tuesday, TikTok submitted a requested report to the European Commission on the risks associated with the new TikTok Lite app. The network had until Wednesday to address the potentially addictive nature of the program or face having the app suspended by the EU regulator.
“TikTok always tries to engage constructively with the European Commission and other regulatory authorities. Therefore, we are voluntarily suspending the rewards features in TikTok Lite until we resolve the comments raised,” the company said on X.
“Proceedings against TikTok regarding the platform’s risk of addiction are ongoing, including an investigation to determine whether the launch of TikTok Lite complied with the DSA,” European Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton said in a statement. “Our children are not social media guinea pigs,” he added.
How TikTok works
TikTok is most popular especially among teenagers, who, according to some statistics, already use it more often than Facebook. Among the users of this Chinese social network, we can also find older generations.
The principle of this online service is very simple, it is based on very short videos that are played one after the other. It’s the same as if you were viewing posts on Facebook and the screen scrolled itself to more and more posts.
But instead of text, they play prime videos on TikTok, short recordings with a length of three to 60 seconds. And just such a short duration seems to be a recipe for success, because in the US the Chinese social network has even surpassed Snapchat and Instagram.
At first it was possible to record videos of only 15 seconds, later it was possible to publish up to three-minute clips. Video content can now be up to ten minutes long.
Although short videos are still popular, many users are able to spend several hours a day on TikTok.
What is DSA and DMA?
In 2023, two new laws came into effect, which are referred to as a whip for internet giants. These are namely the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
While the DSA aims to ensure transparency, user safety and accountability for online platforms, the DMA is a competition law setting clear rules under which large online platforms can operate.
Both pieces of legislation will understandably have a significant impact on business across Europe and probably the world as they set new standards for digital consumer business.
It won’t just be like that. US TikTok ban stalls legal battle
Software
