TikTok Backtracks in Europe: Removes Feature Amidst Addiction Concerns

Earlier this week, the European Union started its crackdown on addictive apps and ordered TikTok to remove the rewards system from its sister app, TikTok Lite. The company has now suspended the feature in the EU region following its threat to ban TikTok in its member countries.

TikTok’s move to disable the feature came just a couple of days after the EU opened an investigation into the “task reward ” mechanism on the Lite app, citing that the feature could cause addiction and pose mental health risks among young people.

Under the EU’s revamped online governance and content moderation rulebook, the Digital Services Act (DSA), TikTok has a legal obligation to check for and remove any feature that can pose mental health risks or a threat to child safety.

This is a big deal, as the company could face large penalties under the DSA—up to 6% of its global annual turnover—if it’s found to have broken the EU’s rules.

The EU had given TikTok two days to provide arguments against an enforced shutdown. In the event, TikTok opted to preempt enforcement by announcing a “voluntary” suspension.

Nonetheless, the European Commission is taking the win by responding to TikTok’s announcement with a counter post on X (Formerly Twitter).

TikTok has been in hot water lately due to its wayward policies as well as security concerns in the US and EU. Right now the whole world is looking at TikTok with critical eyes as to what the Chinese might be hiding.