EU Commission Accuses TikTok of Insufficient Youth Protection and Threatens Penalties

Risks for Minors in Focus

At its core, the Commission objects that the account settings for minors continue to expose them to risks such as "unerwünschte Kontaktaufnahmen, Cybermobbing oder ausbeuterisches Verhalten" ("unwanted contact, cyberbullying or exploitative behaviour"). Even when the "Private" setting is selected, minors can easily be found via the "Following" lists of other users, according to the Commission's statement. Profile pictures also remain visible to the entire world.

Among other things, the European Commission criticizes the fact that minors on TikTok have the choice to make their user accounts "public." "Da das, was Minderjährige veröffentlichen, für immer online bleiben und sie bis ins Erwachsenenalter begleiten kann, birgt die Funktion zudem das Risiko potenziell lebenslanger Folgen" ("Because what minors publish can remain online forever and accompany them into adulthood, the feature also carries the risk of potentially lifelong consequences"), the Brussels authority argues.

With more than 200 million users in Europe, TikTok is one of the most popular platforms, particularly among young people. According to company information, TikTok had around 178 million active users within the European Union at the end of 2025. The Commission sees this as a particular responsibility on the part of the company.

Specifically Demanded Changes

Brussels is also demanding that the app operator no longer recommend content from young people to other TikTok users, as currently happens with posts from 16- and 17-year-olds. In addition, the Commission is requiring that content shared by minors not be visible "für alle Welt" ("to the entire world"). Older minors could have the option of sharing their content with a larger audience on the platform, but such content must under no circumstances be accessible to an audience outside the platform.

The European Commission is now calling on the online service of the Chinese Bytedance group to adjust the default settings of "public" accounts belonging to minors so that content is visible by default only to TikTok users who have been accepted as followers by the minors. This is intended to prevent personal content from young people being disseminated beyond the platform.

TikTok Pushes Back and Points to Protective Features

A TikTok spokesperson stated that youth accounts have more than 50 preset privacy and security features. "Jugendkonten auf TikTok verfügen bereits ab der Einrichtung des Kontos über mehr als 50 voreingestellte Datenschutz- und Sicherheitsfunktionen, die unter Einbeziehung von Expertinnen und Experten entwickelt wurden" ("Youth accounts on TikTok already have more than 50 preset privacy and security features from the moment the account is set up, developed with the involvement of experts"), a spokesperson said. A spokesperson announced: "Wir werden diese vorläufigen Ergebnisse prüfen, während wir weiterhin konstruktiv mit der EU zusammenarbeiten" ("We will review these preliminary findings as we continue to work constructively with the EU").

The online platform defended the settings of its platform and pointed to existing security features. TikTok argues that the existing default settings already provide comprehensive protection and were developed in collaboration with specialists. The company now intends to review the preliminary findings and continue to cooperate with the EU.

Commission Vice-President Henna Virkkunen stressed the reach of European regulation. "Der DSA verpflichtet Plattformen dazu, Schutzmaßnahmen für Minderjährige in die Gestaltung ihrer Dienste zu integrieren, und zieht sie zur Rechenschaft, wenn sie dies versäumen" ("The DSA obliges platforms to integrate protective measures for minors into the design of their services and holds them accountable if they fail to do so"), she said. "Ein hohes Schutzniveau sollte keine Option sein, sondern die Standardeinstellung" ("A high level of protection should not be an option but the default setting").

Background: The Digital Services Act

As early as February, the European Commission had criticized TikTok's addictive potential and called on the company to change "das grundlegende Design seines Dienstes" ("the fundamental design of its service"). The preliminary findings now published are part of the ongoing investigative procedure. In May 2025, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew met in Brussels with Virkkunen, among others.

The Commission justifies its demands with the Digital Services Act. Under the DSA, fines of up to 6 percent of a company's annual revenue are possible. For TikTok, such a penalty could reach billions, as the Bytedance group is among the highest-revenue digital companies worldwide. The exact amount of any potential fine remains open.

Brussels justifies its action with the particular need to protect minors in digital spaces. The Commission argues that young users are often not fully aware of the long-term consequences of their online activities. Content published once can influence personal and professional development for years to come.

Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat Also Affected

The European Commission has been demanding since late April that Facebook and Instagram better enforce the minimum age of 13 set out in their own terms of use in order to protect children. Brussels is also demanding that Snapchat enforce its own stipulated minimum age of 13. The ongoing proceedings against various platforms show that the European Commission consistently monitors youth protection in the digital space.

The preliminary findings are not yet final. TikTok now has the opportunity to respond to the allegations and make adjustments to its platform if necessary. If the Commission ultimately finds violations of the DSA, it could not only impose fines but also demand structural changes to the operation of the platform in the EU.

The European Commission reserves the right to expand its investigation if new findings warrant it. Observers expect the authority to maintain pressure on TikTok in the coming months to force concrete changes. The preliminary findings now published are seen as a clear signal to the entire platform industry.