Telling TikTok you are “not interested” in certain videos may not be enough to change your feed, the European Commission said in preliminary findings issued in Brussels on November 6, 2026. The Commission said TikTok’s algorithm prioritised viewing time over users’ stated preferences and found a breach of the Digital Services Act in how the platform assessed and mitigated risks from its For You feed. TikTok rejected the findings, with a spokesperson calling the Commission’s statements “fundamentally inaccurate”, according to Euronews. If the preliminary findings are ultimately confirmed, a fine could reach 6% of the provider’s total worldwide annual turnover.

A person holding a smartphone beside a cup of coffee
Using a smartphone (file photo). Photo: Kristin Hardwick / ISO Republic · CC0 1.0 · Image source

At issue is how the system interprets engagement. Watching or liking videos signals interest, the Commission said. Repeatedly engaging with weight-loss or body-image content, for example, may prompt more of the same, drawing users into what the regulator calls “rabbit holes”. It said TikTok had not adequately assessed those risks. Existing efforts to diversify recommendations did not sufficiently reduce how often similar content appeared, the Commission said.

Repeated exposure to content about sadness, isolation or body image may harm mental health, particularly among minors and vulnerable adults, the Commission said.

A TikTok spokesperson told Euronews Next that the Commission’s statements were “fundamentally inaccurate” and distorted the platform’s architecture and commitment to user safety, according to Euronews. The spokesperson said TikTok had a strong record of protecting its community while giving users direct and intuitive control over their content experience.

In its November 6 announcement, the Commission said TikTok needed to redesign the feed, for example by relying more on explicit preferences, disabling viewing time as a recommendation signal, making user controls easier to find and use, and regularly testing the algorithm. These are preliminary regulatory positions, not a final compliance order.

The announcement said TikTok could review the investigation files and respond in writing, while the European Board for Digital Services would be consulted. If the Commission’s views are ultimately confirmed, it may issue a non-compliance decision that could lead to a fine of up to 6% of the provider’s total worldwide annual turnover.