TikTok’s ‘For You’ Feed Risks Mental Health, EU Says in Preliminary DSA Findings

The European Commission has preliminarily found TikTok in breach of the Digital Services Act over the “rabbit hole effect” of its “For You” feed, saying the platform repeatedly recommends content that can harm users’ mental health.

The findings, announced on 6 November, concern how TikTok assesses and mitigates risks from its recommendation system, particularly for vulnerable adults and minors.

They are not a final decision.

According to the Commission, the feed can expose users to a continuous stream of personalised videos about sadness, isolation or body image.

As users interact with such material, the algorithm recommends more similar content, potentially reinforcing harmful patterns.

How the recommendation loop works

The Commission said TikTok had not adequately assessed how its algorithm may lead users into these “rabbit holes”.

The system uses engagement signals, including watching and liking videos, to personalise recommendations.

Repeatedly watching weight-loss or body-image content, for example, can be interpreted as a positive signal of interest, prompting further recommendations on the same subject.

The Commission said repeated exposure may increase sadness or anxiety, body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem, or worsen existing eating disorders and mental health conditions.

Why existing controls fall short

TikTok has introduced safeguards, but the Commission preliminarily considers them ineffective.

Measures intended to diversify recommendations do not sufficiently reduce repeated exposure to similar content, it said.

The Commission also questioned whether users can meaningfully control their feeds.

Selecting “not interested” may not sufficiently change recommendations because the system gives viewing time priority over an explicit request to see less of particular content.

At this stage, the Commission considers that TikTok needs to change the feed’s design.

Suggested changes include:

• giving greater weight to explicit user preferences,
• disabling viewing time as a recommendation signal,
• improving the accessibility and usability of controls,
• and regularly testing the algorithm.

“Every time a user scrolls or likes a video on TikTok, the algorithm serves more of the same leading users down rabbit holes they cannot easily escape from,” said Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy.

TikTok can respond before a final decision

TikTok can examine the Commission’s investigation files and reply in writing.

The European Board for Digital Services will also be consulted.

If the findings are confirmed, the Commission may issue a non-compliance decision that could lead to a fine of up to 6% of the provider’s total worldwide annual turnover.

Any penalty would depend on factors including the infringement’s nature, gravity, recurrence and duration.

The Commission said its investigation examined TikTok’s risk assessments, internal data and documents, replies to information requests, scientific research and interviews with experts in recommendation systems, psychology and psychiatry.

Ireland’s Digital Services Coordinator, Coimisiún na Meán, supported the investigation.

The Commission stressed that its preliminary findings do not prejudge the investigation’s outcome.