The European Commission has stated that TikTok is not meeting required standards for protecting young users, as its account options fail to align with child safety rules outlined in the Digital Services Act. These are early conclusions, and if confirmed they could lead to penalties reaching 6 percent of the companys worldwide yearly income.

Reasons the EU Sees Shortcomings at TikTok

The Commission notes that TikTok permits minors to switch their accounts to public mode, allowing anyone including non-users to view their posts. It also points out that material from older teens aged 16 and 17 can still reach others via the For You feed, raising chances of unwanted interactions, online harassment, or misuse.

Officials maintain that default privacy settings for children must be stronger from the start instead of depending on manual adjustments. They further suggest that posts from minors public accounts should reach only approved followers and that such content should avoid appearing in recommendation feeds for others.

EU Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Henna Virkkunen emphasized that shielding minors online must be a core requirement, with platforms required to integrate safety features directly into their design rather than treating them as optional add-ons.

TikToks Response to the Concerns

TikTok has disputed the preliminary assessment, noting it aligns with the Commissions aim to protect younger users and already provides over 50 safety tools aimed at teens. The company highlights that accounts for those under 18 start private, younger teens lack access to direct messaging, and their material does not enter the For You feed. TikTok plans to examine the findings and keep engaging with authorities ahead of any final ruling.

The announcement marks an initial stage, giving TikTok time to reply before the EU determines if a violation has occurred. Should concerns persist, regulators may issue a noncompliance ruling and impose fines. This probe forms part of broader DSA reviews targeting TikTok while authorities increase scrutiny on major platforms handling of youth safety online.