Feb 8 • 10:20 UTC 🇶🇦 Qatar Al Jazeera

Amnesty Calls on European Commission to Urgently Act to Stop TikTok's 'Addictive Harm'

Amnesty International urges the European Commission to take urgent action to stop the addictive harm of TikTok and to strictly enforce the Digital Services Act.

Amnesty International has called on the European Commission to urgently address the addictive nature of the TikTok app and to enforce the Digital Services Act rigorously. This call follows preliminary findings from the Commission indicating that TikTok's design is inherently addictive, violating the European law aimed at creating a safer digital space. The organization highlighted that this represents a 'welcomed but overdue acknowledgment' of the platform's manipulative design, which has strived for years to capture the time and attention of young users at all costs.

Lisa Ditmer, a researcher on children's and young people's digital rights at Amnesty International, stated that the European Commission must urgently demonstrate its readiness and ability to enforce the Digital Services Act to prevent what she referred to as 'this harm.' She emphasized the need for a more secure digital environment for children, youth, and adults alike. The findings underscore the growing concern over the impact of social media platforms like TikTok on younger audiences and the urgency for regulatory bodies to take action.

As this situation evolves, it remains crucial for both policymakers and the public to consider the implications of platform design on addictive behaviors, particularly among vulnerable demographics. The response to Amnesty's call to action may set a precedent for how social media giants are regulated in the future, ensuring that user safety is prioritized over corporate profits. This ongoing discourse is essential in the broader context of digital rights and protections in the digital age.

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