Explained: EU says 'rabbit hole' video feeds on TikTok violate its digital rules

The EU accused TikTok of breaching the bloc's digital rules because its algorithm recommends a nonstop stream of personalized videos

Digital Services Act (DSA)

A wide-ranging EU rulebook requiring tech companies to follow a framework under threat of financial penalties

'For You' feed

TikTok's personalized video recommendation feed

rabbit hole effect

When an algorithm keeps feeding similar content based on past views or likes, making it hard for users to escape a pattern of content

addictive design

Features alleged to lead to compulsive use of the platform, especially by children