TikTok Lite Faces Scrutiny in the EU Over Potentially Addictive Rewards Program
The European Commission has raised concerns about TikTok Lite’s rewards program in the region and threatened suspension over addiction risks. Find out more about the program and the problems associated with it.
- Government officials in the European Union are threatening to suspend TikTok Lite’s rewards program and fine the company over allegations of additive features.
- TikTok’s money-for-views program is an app feature that rewards users with cash in exchange for interacting with the app and its content.
Popular social media platform TikTok has come under scrutiny by European Commission (EC) officials, who have threatened to suspend certain features in the TikTok Lite app in the region and levy significant fines on the company. The development has come on the back of addiction concerns arising from the app’s Task and Reward Program feature, which violates the new Digital Services Act.
The new rewards program on the lite version of the TikTok app apparently allows users to earn real-world money in exchange for activities such as inviting friends onto the platform or liking content. According to the EC, TikTok had released the feature without appropriate safeguards from the risk of addiction, especially for minor users, given that the platform does not have age verification mechanisms.
See More: Netherlands Government Might Stop Facebook Usage Over Privacy Risks
The European Commission has warned TikTok to hand over a risk assessment report by April 24 and other details about the issue by May 3. If the company fails to comply, it could face fines. Consequently, this is the second time the European Union has taken action against the social media company. In February 2024, officials started an investigation into whether the company had violated transparency, minor protection, and risk management laws.
TikTok has expressed its disappointment with the EC’s decision. According to a company spokesperson, TikTok Lite’s rewards program was unavailable to users under 18. The company also stated that it had fixed a daily limit on the number of videos that could be watched under the program, mitigating the risk of addiction. Whether the app, which has already been launched in Spain and France, remains in action is yet to be determined.
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