Application that pays you to watch TikToks is one step away from being suspended in the European Union

The European Union (EU) has opened a second formal investigation into TikTok involving the addictive nature of TikTok Lite, a smaller version of the app that pays you to watch videos.

TikTok Lite was launched earlier this month in France and Spain and allows users Earn points by watching and liking videos. These points can be exchanged for Amazon shopping vouchers and TikTok's own digital currency, which is normally used to tip creators.

The European Commission has expressed concern that this type of “task and reward” design language could have an impact on the mental health of young users. by “stimulating addictive behaviors”.

The Commission has not yet confirmed any violations of the DSA, but has suggested it could impose temporary measures to force parent company ByteDance suspending TikTok Lite in the EU while investigation continues.

ByteDance may face penalties of up to 1% of its total annual income

The company has until tomorrow (April 24) to argue against these potential measures, so the app is still available for EU residents. However, ByteDance did not provide the EU with a risk assessment document regarding TikTok Lite after being asked to do so last week.

Failure to comply with the DSA can lead to heavy sanctions against the company up to 1% of your total annual income and periodic sanctions of up to 5% of daily income. The Commission has not indicated whether it plans to impose these fines as the investigation continues.

We suspect that TikTok Lite could be as toxic and addictive as light cigarettes. We will spare no effort to protect our children.

wrote Thierry Breton, EU Internal Market Commissioner, in a press release announcing the investigation.

TikTok ban in America continues to get closer to reality

The US House of Representatives included a revised version of the bill in this weekend's foreign aid package. According to this new legislative proposal, ByteDance would have one year to sell TikTok before it is banned from app stores.

The bill now goes to the Senate and will likely be voted on this week. However, it is not yet known whether the Senate will maintain the TikTok part of the foreign aid package. President Biden has previously said who would support banning TikTok if Congress approved it.

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