The European Commission says it will crack down on design features on TikTok, Instagram and other social media platforms that it says can keep children engaged and steer them toward harmful content. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen states the EU is investigating services that allow children to move through “rabbit holes” of harmful material, including content related to eating disorders or self-harm.
The Commission’s approach focuses on “addictive design” elements such as endless scrolling, autoplay, push notifications, and recommendation systems that may create loops of content. Von der Leyen also references concerns that platforms including Meta’s services are not adequately enforcing minimum age rules, including the 13-year threshold.
The Commission says it is working on enforcement mechanisms that include an EU age-verification app designed to support compliance with child-safety rules. Von der Leyen says the technology is available and highlights privacy claims for the tool. The EU expects to prepare a legal proposal later this year, potentially as soon as summer, after receiving input from a panel of experts on online child safety.
