The European Commission has concluded an inquiry into TikTok Lite’s rewards feature and has accepted TikTok’s pledge to permanently remove this element within the European Union. The rewards feature in question was part of TikTok Lite, a version of the popular app designed for use in areas with lower bandwidth. This feature, operational in France and Spain, allowed users to accumulate points through in-app activities, which could then be traded in for Amazon vouchers.
TikTok has agreed to not reintroduce the feature under a different name or any comparable variant in the EU, in response to the Commission’s concerns. Although this agreement concerns the specific rewards mechanism under scrutiny, it does not prohibit TikTok from introducing any kind of rewards in the future, provided they comply with EU regulations.
The probe, initiated by the EU in April, raised issues about the potential for such features to adversely affect the mental health of young users by promoting addictive behaviors. TikTok had preemptively suspended the rewards mechanism following the start of the EU investigation, faced with the possibility of the EU using interim powers to shut down the feature on concerns of it encouraging excessive app use.
The satisfactory resolution of this case, as stated by a senior Commission official, is aimed at safeguarding EU citizens, particularly minors, from the potential harms associated with such features. While TikTok has not been formally found to have breached the Digital Services Act (DSA) and therefore faces no fines at this stage, a failure to stick to the agreement could result in immediate sanctions under the DSA, which could amount to up to 6% of the company’s global annual turnover.
The EU plans to ensure TikTok’s adherence to its commitments through a monitoring framework that employs existing procedures and the regulatory powers granted by the DSA, also involving member state authorities responsible for overseeing general compliance with these regulations.
Thierry Breton, the EU’s internal market commissioner, expressed in a statement that young Europeans’ time should not be exploited by social media platforms. He confirmed the permanent withdrawal of the TikTok Lite Rewards program due to its potentially addictive consequences and reinforced that the DSA aims to protect against such practices.
TikTok representatives have communicated their willingness to maintain a constructive dialogue with the European Commission and regulatory bodies, noting that the rewards program, which had been previously paused voluntarily, is now completely withdrawn.
While this particular case involving TikTok Lite is closed, the European Commission continues to explore broader issues related to the main TikTok app, with a focus on the algorithm’s functionality, potential “rabbit hole effects,” and whether the content recommendation process may result in the amplification of harmful content. Other concerns include whether TikTok employs sufficient age-verification procedures and meets the transparency requirements set by the DSA.
The ongoing scrutiny of the overarching TikTok app, along with how the DSA and Digital Markets Act (DMA) are reshaping Big Tech’s platform operations, underscores the increasing regulatory attention toward safeguarding users, especially young users, from potential harms associated with digital services.
