TikTok has 24 hours to provide a risk assessment after the launch of its new app, TikTok Lite, in France and Spain, the European Commission said Wednesday, citing concerns over the app’s impact on children and users’ mental health.
The slimmed down version of the TikTok app essentially pays users to watch videos and earn points that can be exchanged for rewards like vouchers or gift cards. To participate, users must be over the age of 18 and verify their age. They can watch up to one hour per day to gain rewards, which equates to $1.06 a day.
The commission said TikTok owner ByteDance, based in China, should have done a risk assessment before the app was released.
The demand "concerns the potential impact of the new 'Task and Reward Lite' program on the protection of minors, as well as on the mental health of users, in particular in relation to the potential stimulation of addictive behavior," the commission said.
The inquiry for details was initiated in accordance with the 2022 Digital Services Act, which governs content moderation on 22 major online platforms like TikTok.
Beyond the 24-hour deadline for the risk assessment, TikTok must provide additional requested information by April 26, the commission said.
"We have already been in direct contact with the commission regarding this product and will respond to the request for information," a TikTok spokesperson said.
Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse. (VOA/KV)