TikTok Lite: EU Closes Investigation After TikTok Agrees to Withdraw Rewards Mechanism
The European Commission has concluded its Digital Services Act (DSA) investigation into TikTok Lite’s rewards feature following TikTok’s commitment to permanently remove the feature from the European Union.
The Investigation and Its Findings
The “task and reward” mechanism in TikTok Lite, which launched in France and Spain earlier this year, allowed users to earn points for engaging in various in-app activities such as watching and liking videos. These points could then be exchanged for Amazon vouchers. TikTok Lite is a low-bandwidth alternative to TikTok’s main app, offered in certain markets.
TikTok’s Commitments
TikTok has agreed not to reintroduce the rewards feature in the EU, even under a different name or with similar functionality. While this settlement addresses the specific rewards mechanism under investigation, it does not prohibit TikTok from launching other rewards features in the future.
The EU initiated the probe in April due to concerns that the design of the rewards mechanism might encourage addictive behavior, particularly affecting the mental health of young users. TikTok suspended the feature shortly after the investigation began, in response to the EU’s threats to use interim powers to shut it down while the investigation was ongoing.
Outcome and Compliance
A senior Commission official expressed satisfaction with the outcome, noting that it provides a swift resolution to protect EU citizens, including minors. Although the Commission did not formally find TikTok in breach of the DSA, TikTok is now under strict compliance obligations. Should TikTok fail to uphold its commitments, the company could face immediate sanctions under the DSA, which includes fines of up to 6% of its global annual turnover without the need for a fresh investigation.
The Commission will monitor TikTok’s adherence to these commitments through existing processes and DSA powers, working alongside Member State-level authorities responsible for overseeing compliance with the regulation’s general rules.
Official Statements
Thierry Breton, the EU’s Internal Market Commissioner, commented: “The available brain time of young Europeans is not a currency for social media — and it never will be. We have obtained the permanent withdrawal of TikTok Lite Rewards programme, which could have had very addictive consequences. The DSA is in full swing.”
Elliott Burton, a spokesperson for TikTok, stated: “We always seek to engage constructively with the European Commission and other regulators. TikTok is pleased to have reached an amicable resolution and has now withdrawn the TikTok Lite rewards programme which was launched in France and Spain in April, which we had already voluntarily suspended.”
Ongoing Investigations
While this particular case has been resolved, another, more comprehensive investigation into the main TikTok app, announced in February, remains active.
This ongoing investigation focuses on concerns about the app’s algorithm potentially leading to “rabbit hole effects,” where users are recommended increasingly extreme content, including harmful material such as videos promoting eating disorders.
The Commission is also scrutinizing TikTok’s age-assurance measures to protect children from inappropriate content and examining the company’s compliance with DSA transparency requirements.
