TikTok’s For You Page (FYP) could be in for changes. The bigger question is whether the E.U. can force them. On Nov. 6, the European Commission shared preliminary findings that the FYP may violate the E.U.’s Digital Services Act (DSA). Regulators are focused on what they call the “rabbit hole effect.”
The name says it all. Officials believe the FYP can trap users in endless content loops.
The FYP’s recommendation algorithm leans on likes and viewing time to pick the next video. Watch or engage with one type of content enough and you’ll get more of it. E.U. regulators say that can create a cycle of repeated exposure to potentially harmful content. The topics they flagged include weight loss, body image, sadness and isolation.
Henna Virkkunen, the Commission’s tech chief, put it bluntly. Every scroll or like, she said, serves up more of the same and leads users down rabbit holes they can’t easily escape.
The Commission says TikTok’s current safeguards, such as the “Not Interested” option, fall short. It wants TikTok to give more weight to what users say they want. It also wants viewing time dropped as a recommendation signal. Easier content controls and regular algorithm testing are on its list as well.
Does TikTok have to comply?
Not yet. These are preliminary findings, not a final ruling. TikTok can review the evidence and file a written response before the Commission decides anything. The company has already pushed back. It argues the findings misrepresent its platform and the controls it gives users.
TikTok can also work with regulators on changes before the case wraps up. Even so, the Commission could still find a violation. A non-compliance decision could bring a fine of up to 6% of TikTok’s global annual turnover.
For creators, the stakes come down to reach. The FYP is how new viewers find you. If TikTok stops counting watch time, the signals that push a video out would shift. Strong hooks and high completion rates have been the playbook for years. A system built around stated preferences could reward clear topics and consistent niches instead.
Nothing will change overnight. Keep an eye on the case anyway. Creators who spread their audience across several platforms will feel any shake-up less.