Goodbye, Infinite Scrolling: New EU Laws Goal Social Media Habit

The EU is basically attempting to redesign the way in which we work together with social media, transferring past easy content material moderation to focus on the precise “skeleton” of those apps. For the primary time, Brussels is treating addictive design—particularly options like infinite scrolling—not simply as a nuisance, however as a authorized danger underneath the Digital Companies Act (DSA).

The European Fee has signaled that TikTok’s present interface is inherently addictive, notably for youthful customers. To stay compliant and keep away from large monetary penalties, the platform is being pressured to:

• Kill the “Scroll”: Exchange the infinite feed with outlined stopping factors.

• Implement Breaks: Transfer from optionally available reminders to strict, obligatory screen-time interruptions.

• Algorithmic Transparency: Overhaul the advice engines that maintain customers looped into the app for hours.

A Domino Impact for Huge Tech

Whereas TikTok is the speedy goal, this isn’t an remoted case; the EU is basically making a blueprint for your complete business. Meta (Fb and Instagram) is already underneath an identical microscope, and X (previously Twitter) has beforehand confronted transparency audits.

The core of the argument is that “surveillance-based promoting” depends on retaining eyes on screens at any price. By labeling these design decisions as a risk to psychological well being, the EU is forcing a pivot from engagement-first to safety-first structure.

What Occurs Subsequent?

Proper now we’re in a high-stakes negotiation section; TikTok has pushed again, calling the findings “meritless,” and can seemingly combat the fees in court docket. Nevertheless, the stakes are large: non-compliance might result in fines of as much as 6% of world annual income.

Whereas we received’t see these apps change in a single day, the “Wild West” of persuasive design is ending. Future updates will seemingly function extra handbook consumer controls and fewer “rabbit gap” options as platforms scramble to fulfill these new European requirements.