TikTok will stop paying its users to avoid a fine in Europe

TIK Tak He folded his hands and announced that will stop paying users who use your application. After receiving an ultimatum from the European Commission, the Chinese company is deactivating the use of TikTok Lite, the rewards app it launched a few days ago in Spain and France. The popular social network is facing two EU investigations for conduct that breaches the Digital Markets Act.

IN message from your X (Twitter) account focused on European politics, TikTok announced the temporary closure of its bonus program. “TikTok always strives to engage constructively with the European Commission and other regulators. Therefore, we will voluntarily suspend the rewards features on TikTok Lite while we address the concerns they raised,” he said.

The “voluntary suspension” TikTok is reporting is nothing more than defense mechanism to avoid a million dollar fine. The European Commission singled out the company for launching a rewards program without first assessing the risks involved. TikTok exceeds the threshold of 45 million active users in the EU, so it must provide risk assessment reports as required by the Digital Markets Act.

European Commission announced this week that will open a second investigation against TikTok to pay users for using your application. The regulator fears that TikTok Lite’s rewards could lead to addiction and has demanded a report from the social network on the risks. Having received no response, the Commission issued a warning and set a deadline for submitting the documentation.

“Given TikTok’s failure to submit a risk assessment that should have been completed before the launch of TikTok Lite, the Commission suspects a prima facie violation of the Digital Services Act and considers that there is a risk of serious harm to the mental health of users,” it added.

What is the TikTok rewards program and why was it discontinued?

Rewards program TikTok Light, implemented in Spain and France, awards points in exchange for completing actions on the platform. According to a French newspaper Le Mondethe application offers 0.36 euros for every hour of video viewing. Users earn coins by logging in, following sponsored accounts, or inviting friends to follow.

TIK Tak uses a mechanism similar to what we find in mobile games and apps like AliExpress. The system is designed to convince the user to return daily for coins. To do this, they use charts with bars, eye-catching graphics, and FOMO-inducing elements. causes long-term anxiety.

Since TikTok is under investigation for its addictive algorithms, the European Commission has paid special attention to this case. Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services, accused the company of expose minors to the risk of addiction, anxiety, depression and eating disorders.

“We suspect that TikTok Lite may be as toxic and addictive as light cigarettes,” Breton said. “If TikTok does not provide convincing evidence of its security, which it has not yet done, we are prepared to activate the temporary measures of the Digital Services Act. This includes pausing a TikTok Lite feature that we suspect may be addictive.”

As of now, there are no signs that TikTok Lite will be returning anytime soon. The company announced that it will work with European authorities to resolve problems with its rewards program. Anyway, 36 cents to watch conspiracy theories or a reggaeton video for an hour is disrespectful.