Europe Accuses TikTok of 'Addictive Design' and Pushes for Change (nytimes.com)
- Reference: 0180746598
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/02/06/1431209/europe-accuses-tiktok-of-addictive-design-and-pushes-for-change
- Source link: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/business/tiktok-addictive-design-europe.html
> On Friday, the regulators released a preliminary decision that TikTok's infinite scroll, auto-play features and recommendation algorithm amount to an "addictive design" that violated European Union laws for online safety. The service poses potential harm to the "physical and mental well-being" of users, including minors and vulnerable adults, the European Commission, the 27-nation bloc's executive branch, said in a statement.
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> The findings suggest TikTok must overhaul the core features that made it a global phenomenon, or risk major fines. European officials said it was the first time that a legal standard for social media addictiveness had been applied anywhere in the world. "TikTok needs to change the basic design of its service," the European Commission said in a statement.
[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/business/tiktok-addictive-design-europe.html
Well, they could demand Douyin.... (Score:2)
Douyin - the Chinese version of TikTok - is very different from what TikTok is in the West. While the latter inspires various types of narcissistic and degrading behavior, such as twerking or gluttony, the former is an absolutely wholesome platform that inspires its users to be the best versions of themselves. One doesn't see Chinese in China engaging in the same sort of antics that people in the West do: there's no way the Beijing regime would tolerate it
So instead of engaging w/ Oracle, the EU could a
For " you know who you are".... (Score:1)
I Told You. I told you. I visited that site 3 times since it's launch and two of those I never let the page finish loading.
Sounds like a good starting point... (Score:2)
Maybe they can address Youtube, Facebook and Twitter next... for the exact same reasons.
One of many. (Score:2)
The EU is exactly right about the design but they are missing that many websites and phone applications are like this. You need only look at which websites/software companies have hired neuroscientists to identify the worst offenders.
Addictive design really is a thing (Score:5, Interesting)
If you think addictive design isn't a thing, I suggest you visit Las Vegas and walk through any casino gaming floor. You'll find it a disorienting experience beyond anything you'll encounter elsewhere. Flashing lights, constant noise, lack of reference points to tell where you are. Hells, even the carpets are custom designs for the casino featuring abstract patterns in contrasting colors that confuse your sense of direction. And to top it off, mirrors everywhere that reflect the floor and make the space seem larger than it is. All of it's designed very deliberately to achieve an effect: leave you confused about where you are, what direction you need to go to get somewhere, even what time it is. The goal: keep you wandering the gaming floor for as long as possible so you have the greatest chance of getting attracted to the games and starting to play and the greatest chance of not realizing how long you've been there or how much you've truly spent playing.
Re: (Score:2)
> Flashing lights, constant noise, lack of reference points to tell where you are. Hells, even the carpets are custom designs for the casino featuring abstract patterns in contrasting colors that confuse your sense of direction.
You're right in that Vegas casinos are designed to keep people in and playing, but that has nothing to do with addictive design. The loud "winning" noises play into that, but not the confusingly laid out floor plans.
At any rate, the trend is away from that style of casino floor. The Bellagio and Wynn casino floors are clean and neatly laid out. The Wynn even has windows. Ditto the Aria.