Subject: Danger to the physical and mental safety of European adolescents and young people on social networks
National Public Radio (NPR)1 in the US disclosed internal TikTok documents, indicating that the platform was aware of the risks that its design and algorithm posed to adolescents and young people, especially in terms of the addiction they could generate and their contribution to mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and eating disorders. They also show that its management was aware that minors used the platform to make live transmissions, such as in the cases of 15-year-old girls stripping live on the platform in exchange for ‘gifts’2.
In light of the above:
1. Does the Commission consider that social networks pose an imminent danger to the physical and mental safety of European children and young people?
2. Does the Commission intend to hold social network owners who were aware of what was happening accountable?
3. Is the Commission planning immediate action to ensure that social networks reduce the risks posed by their designs, algorithms and lack of security, as set out in the Digital Services Act?
Submitted: 15.10.2024
1 https://www.npr.org/2024/10/11/g-s1-27676/tiktok-redacted-documents-in-teen-safety-lawsuit-revealed
2 https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20241015/10021767/informes-internos-revelan-tiktok-tanto-desnudos-
ninas-cambio-dinero.html
Answer given by Executive Vice-President Vestager on behalf of the European Commission (12 November 2024)
The Commission takes the impact that social media can have on young people’s well-being and mental health very seriously. It has already taken action by opening formal proceedings under the Digital Services Act (DSA) (1) against TikTok (2), Facebook and Instagram (3), based on suspicions that algorithms may stimulate behavioural addictions in young people and create so called ‘rabbit-hole effects’.
The Commission also continuously monitors compliance of all very large online platforms and search engines (4) (VLOPSEs) with the DSA and may initiate new proceedings if necessary.
Under Article 28 DSA, all online platforms in the EU must ensure a high level of privacy, safety and security on their services for minors. Under Article 34 DSA, the VLOPSEs must also regularly assess systemic risks, including negative effects to users’ mental and physical well-being, and take effective mitigation measures in respect of any such risks.
To assist online platforms in ensuring a high level of privacy, safety, and security of minors on their service, and thus support minors’ mental and physical wellbeing, the Commission is currently developing guidelines scheduled for adoption in 2025.
Protection must go hand-in-hand with empowerment: under the Better Internet for Kids (BIK+) strateg y (5) the Commission offers a wealth of content and services to children and young people, and those that care for them, through the EU co-funded network of Safer Internet Centres and the BIK platform (6).
1 1https://www.npr.org/2024/10/11/g-s1-27676/tiktok-redacted-documents-in-teen-safety-lawsuit-revealed
2 2https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20241015/10021767/informes-internos-revelan-tiktok-tanto-desnudos-ninas-cambio-dinero.html
1 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32022R2065
2 ∙ ⸱ https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/list-designated-vlops-and-vloses#ecl-inpage-tiktok
3 ∙ ⸱ https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_2664
4 ∙ ⸱ https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/list-designated-vlops-and-vloses
5 ∙ ⸱ COM/2022/212 final.
6 ∙ ⸱ https://better-Internet-for-kids.europa.eu/en