On November 6, 2026, the European Commission preliminarily found TikTok in breach of the Digital Services Act. The finding targets the rabbit hole effect of its recommender system.
Recommender System Findings
The European Commission preliminarily found TikTok in breach of the Digital Services Act for the rabbit hole effect of its recommender system. TikTok's For You feed delivers a continuous stream of personalised videos, including content regarding mental health struggles and body image.
When a user interacts more with a certain type of content, TikTok's algorithm recommends similar material. Endless exposure to topics like sadness, isolation, or body image can harm the mental health of vulnerable adults and minors.
Scope of Findings
The European Commission stated that these preliminary findings focus on both risk assessment and mitigation measures.
Key facts and where they come from
- The European Commission preliminarily found TikTok in breach of the Digital Services Act for its recommender system.
The European Commission has preliminarily found TikTok in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA) for the so-called ‘rabbit hole effect’ of its recommender system.
- The preliminary findings focus on risk assessment and mitigation measures.
These preliminary findings focus on both risk assessment and mitigation measures.
