The European Commission has announced the Digital Fairness Act, (DFA) which seeks to address endless scrolling, AI-generated harmful content, and violations of age limits on TikTok, Meta, and X. The Act may also introduce a minimum age requirement.
The European Union took decisive action on Tuesday to address the influence of major social media platforms. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced new legislation targeting design features that attract young users. At the European Summit on Artificial Intelligence and Children in Copenhagen, von der Leyen stated that the upcoming DFA will address “addictive and harmful design practices,” including endless scrolling, autoplay, and push notifications, which are designed to maximize engagement at the expense of children’s wellbeing.
TikTok, Meta, and X face immediate scrutiny: The Commission confirmed it is already conducting active investigations into three of the world’s largest platforms under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
Von der Leyen stated that Instagram and Facebook are not enforcing their minimum age requirement of 13. The Commission has also initiated proceedings against X regarding its Grok AI tool, which has been linked to the generation of sexual images of women and children. Spokespersons for all three companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Von der Leyen’s speech was supported by ongoing regulatory action. On February 6, 2026, the Commission issued preliminary findings that TikTok breached the Digital Services Act. This marks the first instance of EU enforcement focusing on the harmful design of a platform rather than illegal content, data protection, or competition. The formal investigation, launched on February 19, 2024, examines TikTok’s compliance in several areas.
The Commission concluded that TikTok must fundamentally redesign its service — for instance by disabling infinite scroll over time, introducing mandatory screen-time breaks including during night hours, and overhauling its recommender system. TikTok now has the right to examine the investigation files and submit a written defence. These preliminary findings do not prejudge the final outcome.
A sweeping indictment of platform business models: Von der Leyen emphasized that the harms children face online are not accidental, but the result of profit-driven design. “Sleep deprivation, depression, anxiety, self-harm, addictive behaviour, cyberbullying, grooming, exploitation, suicide — risks are multiplying fast,” she said. “These risks are the reality of the digital world. They are not accidental. They are the result of business models that treat our children’s attention as a commodity.” The Commission cited scientific research showing that design features which continually reward users with new content can cause compulsive behaviour and reduce self-control, especially among minors and vulnerable adults.
What will the Digital Fairness Act do: The proposed Digital Fairness Act, expected before the end of 2026, will build on and significantly expand the DSA. Key measures include strict limits on the deployment of artificial intelligence, a ban on addictive design techniques, and new requirements for children’s privacy and online security. Von der Leyen also noted that the EU has developed its own age-verification app, modelled on the EU Digital COVID Certificate, which she said meets the highest privacy standards globally. Member states can integrate this app into their digital wallets to simplify platform enforcement. However, several governments have responded cautiously, and cybersecurity experts have raised concerns about potential technical vulnerabilities.
A minimum age for social media — decision coming this summer: Von der Leyen indicated the Commission may propose a bloc-wide minimum age for social media access as early as this summer, based on recommendations from an expert advisory panel. The EU has developed an age-verification application that is technically ready for public use. She noted that “discussions about a minimum age can no longer be ignored,” although member states have shown mixed enthusiasm for Brussels-led verification tools.
Investigation timeline:
Feb 2024: Commission launches formal DSA investigation into TikTok.
Oct 2025: Preliminary findings on TikTok’s researcher data-access obligations adopted
Dec 2025: TikTok advertising-transparency strand closed via binding commitments.
Feb 6, 2026: Commission issues preliminary finding: TikTok’s addictive design breaches the DSA — a first for EU enforcement.
March 2026: US jury finds Meta and YouTube liable for addictive design.
May 12, 2026: Von der Leyen announces Digital Fairness Act and possible minimum age proposal this summer.
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