EU to crack down on TikTok, Instagram ‘addictive design’ hooking kids
CNBC • • world
Key Points:
- The EU plans to regulate "addictive design" features on TikTok and Instagram, targeting elements like endless scrolling, autoplay, and push notifications to protect children from social media harms.
- EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced upcoming actions and investigations into platforms that allow children to access harmful content, such as videos promoting eating disorders or self-harm.
- The EU has developed a high-privacy age verification app for member states to integrate into digital wallets, aiming to enforce age restrictions more effectively on online platforms.
- Legal proposals could be introduced as early as summer, following advice from the EU's Special Panel of experts on Child Safety Online, amid ongoing scrutiny of Big Tech firms like Meta, Apple, and Google for regulatory violations.
- The move aligns with global trends, including Australia's ban on social media for under-16s, with several European countries considering similar legislation to restrict children's access to social media platforms.