brussels,February 8,2026 – Amnesty International has welcomed the European commission’s preliminary findings that TikTok‘s design is addictive and possibly in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA is a landmark EU law designed to create a safer digital space.
Amnesty International Responds to EU Findings on TikTok
Lisa Dittmer, Amnesty International Researcher on children and Young People’s Digital Rights, stated: “For years, TikTok has been at the forefront of Big Tech’s efforts to maximize engagement, frequently enough at the expense of user wellbeing. this announcement is a long-overdue but welcome acknowledgement of TikTok’s addictive design.”
“The European Commission must now urgently demonstrate it’s willingness and ability to enforce the Digital Services Act to stop this abuse and provide children, young people, and adults alike with a safer online environment.”
Lisa Dittmer, Amnesty International Researcher on Children and Young People’s Digital Rights
Dittmer emphasized the importance of balancing safety with children’s rights, stating: “Amidst current discussions of restrictions on children’s access to social media platforms, governments must remember they also have a duty to protect children’s right to participate in the digital world.To do so, their focus must be on tackling the toxic design of leading social media platforms, including thru effectively enforcing laws like the Digital Services Act, as opposed to restricting children’s rights.”
European commission’s Assessment
The European Commission’s preliminary assessment, published today, found that TikTok did not adequately assess how its addictive design features could harm the physical and mental wellbeing of its users. The Commission highlighted specific design features that keep users scrolling and can induce an ‘auto-pilot’ mode, calling for changes to the platform’s design. The Digital Services Act aims to regulate online platforms and protect users from illegal and harmful content.
Amnesty International’s Research on TikTok’s Risks
Amnesty International’s research has consistently highlighted the serious risks TikTok poses to the mental and physical health of children and young people.This includes evidence of TikTok’s use of addictive design elements and the platform’s “rabbit hole” effect driven by its hyper-personalized ‘For You’ feed.
Recent research conducted by Amnesty International in France in October 2025 revealed that TikTok continues to direct children and young people interested in mental health-related videos towards content that romanticizes self-harm and suicide, or displays young people expressing suicidal intentions, including data on suicide methods.
Key Takeaways
- The European Commission has found preliminary evidence that TikTok’s design is addictive and potentially violates the Digital Services Act.
- Amnesty International supports strong enforcement of the DSA to protect users, particularly children and young people.
- Restrictions on children’s access to social media should be considered alongside efforts to address the harmful design of these platforms.
- Amnesty International’s research demonstrates a link between TikTok’s algorithms and the exposure of vulnerable users to harmful content related to self-harm and suicide.