TikTok is facing fresh regulatory scrutiny in Europe after the European Commission issued preliminary findings alleging that the platform’s design may not provide adequate protections for children under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
The regulator argues that certain account settings and platform features could leave younger users more vulnerable to cyberbullying, unwanted contact, and online predators, marking the latest enforcement action against the ByteDance-owned social media platform.
According to the Commission, TikTok currently allows minors to create public accounts that make their content visible to a wider audience, increasing potential exposure to harmful interactions. Regulators also raised concerns that even private accounts may remain discoverable through follower and following lists, allowing children to be identified by users who may not even have TikTok accounts.
European officials say platforms should implement privacy-by-default protections for minors, ensuring that children’s content is only accessible to approved followers unless users actively choose otherwise after reaching an appropriate age.
The case represents the fourth major investigation involving TikTok under the Digital Services Act in the past two years, highlighting the European Union’s increasingly aggressive approach toward enforcing online safety standards for large technology platforms.
TikTok has stated that it will review the Commission’s findings and continue cooperating with regulators. The company emphasized that it already provides extensive protections for teenage users, including more than 50 built-in privacy and safety features.
Among those measures, TikTok noted that accounts belonging to users under 18 are private by default, while younger teenagers cannot use direct messaging or have their content recommended through the platform’s “For You” feed.
Despite those safeguards, European regulators argue that stronger default protections are required under the Digital Services Act, which obligates very large online platforms to proactively identify and reduce risks affecting vulnerable users, particularly children.
If the preliminary findings are confirmed following TikTok’s response, the company could face financial penalties of up to 6% of its global annual revenue, making the investigation one of the most significant regulatory challenges for the platform in Europe.
The case also reflects a broader international trend toward stricter oversight of social media companies. Governments worldwide are introducing regulations that require platforms to demonstrate stronger child safety protections, enhanced privacy controls, and greater accountability for algorithmic recommendations and online content.
As digital services become increasingly central to young people’s daily lives, regulators are shifting their focus beyond content moderation toward platform design itself, requiring technology companies to embed safety protections directly into the user experience rather than relying solely on optional settings.