TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube warned by the EU because of the risk of addiction | Life & Knowledge
Video platforms are probably addictive with their coordinated algorithms – which is why the EU Commission has now warned YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok.
Brussels wants to check whether companies are fueling addiction on their platforms and the spread of hate messages with personalized recommendations for users. The three Online Services must now provide the Commission with detailed information on their algorithms.
According to Brussels, the video recommendations on the platforms could cause users to fall into so-called “rabbit holes” – that is, to immerse themselves in something and forget about space and time. Users watch one video after another on the same topic because the algorithm continually suggests new, sometimes more extreme content.
The Commission suspects that this will particularly affect minors Danger of addiction in the network increases. She also wants to check whether the algorithms are increasingly spreading “illegal content” such as hate messages, hate speech and advertising for illegal drugs.
Companies face billions in fines
The platforms are expected to explain by mid-November how they are taking action against possible dangers through the use of their algorithms.
In the case of the platform TikTok The warning from Brussels is part of an ongoing process. For YouTube and Snapchat, this is the first time the Commission has applied the Digital Services Act (DSA). If companies do not respond to the allegations from Brussels, they face fines running into billions.