TikTok agrees to withdraw rewards feature amid EU concerns over excessive screen time and online addiction.
TikTok has agreed to withdraw its rewards feature after concerns were raised about potential excessive screen time and online addiction, especially among children. This marks the first resolution under the European Union's Digital Services Act, aiming to ensure a "safe and accountable online environment". The rewards feature, available on TikTok Lite in Spain and France, allowed users to earn points for watching videos, liking content, and inviting friends to join the platform. The points could be exchanged for Amazon vouchers and PayPal gift cards. TikTok's commitment to withdrawing the feature is legally binding under the DSA, as stated by Margrethe Vestager, European commissioner for digital affairs. The resolution does not affect a separate investigation focusing on concerns about the protection of minors, advertising transparency, data access for researchers, and mitigating risks of "behavioural addiction" and harmful content.