TikTok has been warned by the European Union to change to change the social media app’s “addictive” design or risk fines of up to 6% of global revenue, potentially up to A$16 billion.

The European Commission said Friday that the Chinese-owned platform is in breach of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) for features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and its highly personalised recommendation algorithm.

Regulators argued these design elements drive compulsive use, especially among children and teenagers.

“TikTok is by far the most used platform after midnight by children between 13 and 18,” Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said. “Seven percent of children aged 12 to 15 spend four to five hours on the app daily. These statistics are extremely alarming.”

EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen emphasised the need to protect minors. Suggested changes include mandatory screen-time breaks, disabling infinite scroll and redesigning recommendation algorithms to reduce compulsive viewing.

The findings mark the first time a major regulator has legally challenged a platform’s design, rather than just its content, and could set a precedent for other Big Tech firms. Facebook, Instagram and other platforms are already under EU investigation.

TikTok rejected the Commission’s preliminary conclusions, calling them “a categorically false and entirely meritless depiction of our platform” and vowed to challenge them. The company now has an opportunity to review the investigation and respond.

The move comes as several European countries tighten restrictions on social media use among minors.

It also follows Australia’s December 2025 ban on under-16s using social media.

Observers say the EU action could influence global app design, particularly if TikTok opts for a worldwide overhaul rather than separate European versions.