The European Commission has found that TikTok’s account settings for minors may not comply with the Digital Services Act, stating that children’s content should not automatically be available to a global audience. While this is not yet a final decision, it highlights a critical issue in European digital policy: whether online child safety should rely on young users adjusting settings or be integrated into platform design from the start.
On Friday, Brussels issued preliminary findings to TikTok under the EU’s platform regulations, suggesting that minors’ accounts do not adhere to safety standards required for major online platforms. According to the Commission, minors can choose to make their accounts public, allowing content to be seen by users outside their circle, including those without TikTok accounts.
The Commission also expressed concern that content posted by older minors, aged 16 and 17, could be suggested to other users via TikTok’s “For You” feed. This could turn a minor’s post into broad distribution, posing risks like unwanted contact, cyberbullying, and predatory behavior.
The main principle at stake is that protection for children should be the default. The Commission suggested TikTok should modify the default visibility of minors’ accounts so content is visible only to accepted users. Although older minors might have more options, their content should not be viewable by a global audience outside the platform.
This aligns with the Commission’s broader guidelines for protecting minors under the Digital Services Act, which advocate for private-by-default accounts, safer recommendation systems, stronger safeguards against unwanted contact, and limits on features that encourage excessive use.
For campaigners and child-safety advocates, TikTok’s case tests whether the DSA can enforce practical changes beyond transparency to platform architecture. The legislation requires significant platforms to identify and mitigate systemic risks, including those to minors’ privacy, safety, mental health, and rights.
The TikTok case is part of a larger European effort to hold large platforms accountable for design decisions impacting children and vulnerable groups. Earlier this year, Brussels addressed concerns over TikTok’s addictive design features, inspecting infinite scroll, autoplay, and recommendation systems.
Friday’s action shifts focus from time spent on the app to exposure: who can see a child’s content, how easily it spreads, and whether platform settings introduce risks before users understand them. This case represents both a privacy and children’s rights issue.
The Commission’s findings remain preliminary. TikTok will have a chance to review the case and respond before any final decision. If a violation is confirmed, corrective measures and penalties may be enforced under the DSA framework.
This matter extends beyond one company. For Europe, online safety regulation tests whether digital rights can influence standard product design. For families, the question is immediate: should a child’s account begin with privacy and safety, or must protection be sought in settings after risks are inherent?
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