EU Investigates TikTok Lite Over Addictive Rewards Program and Potential Harm to Minors

Paris, France, Ile-de-France, France France
The EU is investigating TikTok Lite over addictive features and potential harm to minors.
The EU is investigating whether TikTok has broken rules relating to the protection of minors, advertising transparency, and addictive design.
The investigation comes as concerns grow about the potential harms of social media on mental health, particularly for children.
TikTok faces scrutiny over its links to China and data collection practices. In the US, lawmakers are pushing for a bill that would force ByteDance to sell TikTok or be banned from operating in the country.
TikTok Lite allows users aged 18 and above to earn points for watching videos, liking content, following creators, and inviting friends. Points can be exchanged for rewards such as gift cards or Amazon vouchers.
EU Investigates TikTok Lite Over Addictive Rewards Program and Potential Harm to Minors

The European Union (EU) has launched an investigation into TikTok over concerns about addictive features in its new app, TikTok Lite. The EU regulators are threatening to fine TikTok and potentially suspend the rewards program on the app if it does not conduct a legally required risk assessment or provide necessary information to the commission.

TikTok Lite, which was launched in France and Spain earlier this month, allows users aged 18 years and older to earn points for watching videos, liking content, following creators, and inviting friends to join the app. These points can then be exchanged for rewards such as gift cards or Amazon vouchers.

The EU is investigating whether TikTok has broken rules relating to the protection of minors, advertising transparency, and the risk management of addictive design and harmful content. The commission gave TikTok a deadline to submit a risk assessment report for TikTok Lite or face fines.

The EU's investigation is not the first time TikTok has faced scrutiny over its practices. In February, the EU announced it was investigating whether TikTok had broken rules relating to the protection of minors, advertising transparency, and the risk management of addictive design and harmful content.

Under Europe's Digital Services Act (DSA), companies with more than 45 million average active users in the EU are required to comply with stringent rules to fight illegal and harmful content on their platforms. The commission has stated that online platforms have the responsibility to assess and address any potential risks their users may face.

TikTok, which is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, faces additional scrutiny due to concerns over its links to China and data collection practices. In the United States, lawmakers are pushing for a bill that would force ByteDance to sell TikTok or be banned from operating in the country.

The investigation into TikTok's rewards program comes as concerns grow about the potential harms of social media on mental health, particularly for children. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified gaming disorder as a condition that warrants further study and classification as a mental disorder.

TikTok did not respond to requests for comment from CNBC when contacted on Monday.


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Confidence

91%

Doubts
  • Is the rewards program truly addictive?
  • What specific rules has TikTok allegedly broken?

Sources

95%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

TikTok Faces E.U. Inquiry Over ‘Addictive’ Features

The Name Of The NZ Prefix. I PWA NZI.P.Was Dropped. Adam Satariano Monday, 22 April 2024 16:19
  • Unique Points
    • European Union regulators threatened to fine TikTok for not conducting a legally required risk assessment before introducing potentially addictive features on TikTok Lite.
    • , European Union investigates TikTok over 'addictive' reward feature in France and Spain.
    • TikTok did not submit a risk assessment report to the European Commission before introducing rewards features on TikTok Lite, despite a request last week.
  • Accuracy
    • TikTok did not submit a risk assessment report to the European Commission before introducing rewards features on TikTok Lite.
    • Users can earn points by watching videos or following creators in the rewards program of TikTok Lite.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains an appeal to authority and a potential dichotomous depiction. It cites the European Union as a source of regulatory power without questioning their methods or motives, which is an appeal to authority. Additionally, it presents TikTok's features as inherently addictive without considering alternative interpretations, potentially creating a dichotomous depiction.
    • . . . European Union regulators on Monday threatened to fine TikTok over potentially addictive features on a version of its app called TikTok Lite, which was released to work more smoothly on slower wireless networks. . .
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

95%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

TikTok could face EU fines and a suspension over sister app TikTok Lite

CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Brian Fung Monday, 22 April 2024 16:53
  • Unique Points
    • European officials are threatening TikTok with fines and a possible suspension of TikTok Lite due to addictive features and potential harms to users’ mental health.
    • , European Union regulators threatened to fine TikTok for not conducting a legally required risk assessment before introducing potentially addictive features on TikTok Lite.
    • TikTok did not submit a risk assessment report to the European Commission before introducing rewards features on TikTok Lite, despite a request last week.
  • Accuracy
    • Users can exchange earned points for rewards such as gift cards or Amazon vouchers in TikTok Lite.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains an appeal to authority and a potential dichotomous depiction. The author cites EU officials' opinions without providing TikTok's response or alternative viewpoints, which could create a one-sided impression of the issue. Additionally, the article describes TikTok Lite as an 'experiment on unwitting EU citizens', which could present a dichotomous depiction of TikTok Lite as either an innocent experiment or a malicious attempt to manipulate users.
    • European officials are threatening TikTok with massive fines and a possible forced suspension this week...
    • The move comes days after the US House of Representatives passed legislation that could ultimately ban TikTok from the United States over national security concerns.
    • EU officials fear the feature could be used to turn TikTok Lite users into addicts who can't stop using the app.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

EU threatens to suspend TikTok Lite’s money-for-views program over addiction fears

CNBC News Sam Meredith Monday, 22 April 2024 15:08
  • Unique Points
    • TikTok Lite is a new app launched in France and Spain for users aged 18 years and older.
    • Users can exchange earned points for rewards such as gift cards or Amazon vouchers.
    • The EU is investigating whether TikTok has broken rules relating to the protection of minors, advertising transparency, and the risk management of addictive design and harmful content.
  • Accuracy
    • The rewards program in TikTok Lite allows users to earn points by watching videos or following creators.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

EU to investigate ‘addictive’ TikTok reward feature

The Hill News Site: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate-seethe-republicans-call-for-israeli-elections/ Rebecca Klar Monday, 22 April 2024 16:32
  • Unique Points
    • The European Commission is investigating TikTok over a reward feature in France and Spain.
    • TikTok faces fines if it does not submit the requested information by the new deadline.
  • Accuracy
    • European Union regulators threatened to fine TikTok for not conducting a legally required risk assessment before introducing potentially addictive features on TikTok Lite.
    • TikTok was given 24 hours to provide a risk assessment report for TikTok Lite or face fines.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication