EU to crack down on TikTok, Instagram's ‘addictive design’ targeting kids on social media

The European Union is set to take significant action against social media companies, focusing on the so-called 'addictive design' elements present in platforms like TikTok and Instagram. This initiative comes as global governments intensify efforts to shield children from the potential dangers associated with social media use. During a recent address at the European Summit on Artificial Intelligence and Children in Denmark, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced plans to address specific features deemed harmful. She highlighted the issues surrounding endless scrolling, autoplay, and push notifications that keep young users engaged for extended periods. "We are targeting TikTok for its addictive design, and the same scrutiny will apply to Meta's platforms, including Instagram and Facebook," von der Leyen stated, emphasizing that these companies are not adequately enforcing the minimum age requirement of 13 years for their users. The EU is also investigating how these platforms can lead children into dangerous online spaces, where they might encounter harmful content, such as videos promoting eating disorders or self-harm. In response to these challenges, the EU's executive body has created a new age verification application, touted as having the highest privacy standards globally. This app will soon be available for integration into member states' digital wallets, facilitating compliance for online platforms. Von der Leyen firmly declared, "No more excuses – the technology for age verification is available," signaling a robust stance on protecting the youth online. Earlier this year, the EU Commission also initiated an investigation into Elon Musk's X, formerly known as Twitter, for the dissemination of explicit non-consensual content, particularly involving women and children. This story is developing, and updates will be provided as they become available.