How Addictive Are TikTok And Instagram For Young Users? EU Targets Infinite Scroll, Autoplay

Last Updated:May 12, 2026, 19:32 IST

The planned crackdown is the latest step in the EU’s wider campaign to regulate major technology companies, particularly US-based firms, under its digital laws. 

The European Union is preparing a fresh crackdown on social media platforms, with plans to target “addictive design" features on apps such as TikTok and Instagram, as global governments step up efforts to shield children from the harmful effects of online platforms.

The move was outlined by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the European Summit on Artificial Intelligence and Children in Denmark, where she said regulatory action against such features would be rolled out later this year.

“We are taking action against TikTok and its addictive design – endless scrolling, autoplay, and push notifications. The same applies to Meta, because we believe Instagram and Facebook are failing to enforce their own minimum age of 13," Ursula von der Leyen said.

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She further warned that the European Commission is investigating platforms that may expose children to “rabbit holes" of harmful content, including material linked to eating disorders and self-harm.

“We are investigating platforms that allow children to go down ‘rabbit holes’ of harmful content," she said.

Age Verification Push Intensifies

As part of its broader child safety push, the EU has developed its own age verification application, which it says meets the “highest privacy standards in the world." According to Ursula von der Leyen, member states will soon be able to integrate the system into their digital wallets, making enforcement easier for online platforms.

“No more excuses – the technology for age-verification is available," she said.

The European Commission is expected to advance a legal proposal as early as summer, pending recommendations from its Special Panel of experts on Child Safety Online.

Big Tech Under Pressure

The planned crackdown is the latest step in the EU’s wider campaign to regulate major technology companies, particularly US-based firms, under its digital laws. In recent years, companies including Meta Platforms, Apple Inc. and Google have faced billions of dollars in fines for alleged breaches of EU competition and antitrust rules. The EU has also increased scrutiny of other platforms, including Elon Musk’s X, which is under investigation for alleged failures related to harmful AI-generated content.

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