TikTok hits back after European Commission charges: 'Completely false description of our platform'

TikTok announced on Friday that it will contest what it described as “false” conclusions by the European Commission, after the institution told the platform owned by a Chinese group that it needs to change its “addictive design” to comply with European Union rules, according to AFP.

“The Commission's preliminary findings provide a categorically false and completely baseless portrayal of our platform,” a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement.

“We will take all necessary measures to challenge these conclusions, by all available means,” he added.

Features such as infinite scrolling, autoplay and constant push notifications are not simple design choices, but mechanisms that force the user's brain to go into “autopilot mode”, according to the European Commission's preliminary investigation.

The European executive points out that TikTok uses a “variable reward” system similar to gambling, designed specifically to feed the compulsive need to consume new content.

TikTok is accused of ignoring important indicators of compulsive use, such as the amount of time minors spend on the platform at night or the frequency with which users open the app. Scientific research cited in the investigation shows that this behavior “can lead to compulsive behavior and reduce users' self-control.”