The lite version of the TikTok app, launched in two EU countries a few weeks ago, included a rewards feature that paid users every day for interacting with videos. European regulators launched an investigation shortly afterciting the feature’s potential to encourage addiction, particularly among young people. TikTok responded today by suspending functionality in the EU while it responds to the investigation.
TikTok Lite is designed as a lightweight alternative to the main TikTok app for easier use on slow internet connections. He is available in some regions of Asia for years and became available in France and Spain earlier this month. Inside the app is a rewards center which pays users in “coins” to do things like log in, watch ads, and like videos. Coins can be exchanged for things like Amazon vouchers and PayPal gift cards. But it takes a lot of commitment to earn a significant amount of money: an hour of watching videos only earns around 36 cents (or 38 cents).
Quoting the European law on digital servicesthe Commission took actionciting particular concerns about the potential “addictive effect” of the reward feature on children. Talk to ReutersA TikTok spokesperson stressed that the feature is not available to users under 18, but the European Commission’s complaint suggests that TikTok’s age verification mechanisms may not be powerful enough to prevent children from signing up anyway.
