First EU ruling on TikTok’s ‘For You’ feed: ‘It breaches the DSA’
According to Brussels, TikTok’s recommendation system, which is also based on users’ interactions with videos – such as views and ‘likes’ – can contribute to the creation of so-called ‘rabbit holes’, or labyrinths of content
The European Commission has provisionally concluded that TikTok breaches the Digital Services Act (DSA) due to the so-called ‘rabbit hole’ effect of its content recommendation system. According to the EU executive, the platform’s ‘For You’ feed may expose users to a continuous and repetitive stream of videos, including on topics related to mental health and body image, with potential negative effects on psychological wellbeing, particularly for minors and vulnerable adults. If these findings are confirmed, TikTok faces a fine of up to 6 per cent of its global annual turnover.
Path leading to the ‘rabbit holes’
The preliminary findings of the investigation relate to both the risk assessment and the measures taken to mitigate those risks. According to Brussels, TikTok’s recommendation system, which is also based on users’ interactions with videos, such as views and ‘likes’, can contribute to the creation of so-called ‘rabbit holes’, or mazes of content. If a user repeatedly watches videos about weight loss or body image, for example, the algorithm interprets this behaviour as a sign of interest and tends to suggest other similar content. Such repeated exposure, the Commission warns, can have negative consequences for users’ wellbeing, increasing feelings of sadness and anxiety, body dissatisfaction and a decline in self-esteem, as well as exacerbating any pre-existing eating disorders or mental health conditions.
Users have few options for managing the feed
As regards risk mitigation, the measures already introduced by TikTok to limit this phenomenon are, according to the preliminary findings, not sufficiently effective. In particular, the tools designed to diversify recommended content do not sufficiently reduce the frequency with which similar videos are suggested, whilst the controls available to users do not allow them to manage their feed adequately. Even the ‘Not Interested’ button, Brussels notes, may not be enough to alter recommendations. In essence, the Commission takes issue with the weight given to viewing time, which is said to play a more prominent role in content selection than users’ explicit preferences. For this reason, at this stage of the investigation, Brussels believes that TikTok must take action regarding the design of the ‘For You’ feed.
DSA compliance under the microscope
The proposed changes include greater use of preferences expressed directly by users, the removal of viewing time as a factor in recommendations, more accessible and effective control tools, and regular testing of the algorithm. TikTok will now be able to examine the investigation files and submit its written comments, thereby exercising its right of defence. The investigation forms part of the formal proceedings launched by the European Commission to assess TikTok’s compliance with the DSA. As part of the same procedure, Brussels has already adopted preliminary conclusions on addictive design (February 2026), the protection of minors (July 2026) and access to public data for researchers (October 2025). The chapter on advertising transparency, however, was concluded in December 2025 with binding commitments from the platform.
TikTok: European Commission makes inaccurate statements
“The Commission has issued a series of statements that are fundamentally inaccurate and misrepresent the architecture of our platform and our commitment to user safety. We have a strong track record of protecting our community, whilst ensuring users have direct and intuitive control over their content experience.” This was stated by a TikTok spokesperson following the European Commission’s preliminary findings.
