EU Considers Suspending TikTok's "Money-for-Views" Feature

The European Commission may suspend the TikTok Lite rewards programme, which pays users to spend time on the app, come Thursday. 

Commissioner Thierry Breton described the feature as "toxic and addictive", especially when utilised by children.

"We stand ready to trigger... interim measures including the suspension of the TikTok Lite reward programme," said European Commissioner Thierry Breton in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

TikTok must defend its rewards program by Wednesday, or it risks suspension as soon as Thursday, April 25th.

Also, the Commission began formal proceedings against the social media company to see whether it has broken EU law.

According to EU law implemented last year, major platforms such as TikTok are required to conduct a risk assessment before implementing significant changes to their products. 

Last week, the Commission requested TikTok's risk assessment for the Task & Rewards program, but states that the social media company did not submit it within the specified timeframe.

It has said that the system risks "serious damage for the mental health of users".

TikTok Lite

The "Task and Rewards" programme was launched by TikTok last week in France and Spain.

It is a new feature on TikTok Lite, a slimmed-down version of the main social media app, which uses less data and space on users' phones.

Under the programme, users can earn the equivalent of a few pence per day for watching videos and engaging on the app.

The Commission is investigating whether this could have negative effects on the mental health of users, including children, "especially as a result of the new feature stimulating addictive behaviour".

TikTok says rewards are only open to people over the age of 18, and tools are in place to verify their ages.

But the Commission suspects a "lack of effective age verification mechanisms".

As it stands, TikTok currently has no intentions to extend the feature beyond France and Spain, although it is also accessible in select Southeast Asian countries. 

This marks the second official inquiry launched by the EU into TikTok. In February, the Commission initiated formal investigations against the social media platform, examining potential violations related to data protection, child protection, and content moderation regulations. 

TikTok pledged to cooperate with the investigation and maintain collaboration with online safety experts. Under the EU's Digital Services Act, companies can face fines of up to 6% of their global revenue