February 13, 2026
Scrollpocalypse Now
The EU moves to kill infinite scrolling
Brussels vs Doomscroll: save the kids or nanny state? Comment section erupts
TLDR: EU regulators want TikTok to stop infinite scrolling, add screen‑time breaks, and rethink its feed, with big fines looming and other apps like Instagram next. Commenters are split between cheering a kid‑safety crackdown and blasting “nanny state” meddling, with jokes begging Brussels to kill cookie popups first.
The EU just went full parent-mode on TikTok, telling the app to kill infinite scroll, add screen‑time breaks, and tweak its algorithm under the new Digital Services Act. TikTok says the EU is “categorically false,” but the threat is real: fines up to 6% of global revenue. And if this sticks, Facebook and Instagram are next. Cue the comments going thermonuclear.
On one side: digital seatbelts. Supporters argue the EU is finally taking on apps designed to glue kids’ eyes to screens. One fan cheers that if this template hits all platforms, it could be “the best thing the EU has ever done.” On the other: the nanny state panic. Skeptics blast Brussels for “forcing designs on companies,” asking, “Whatever happened to freedom?” The vibe is part safety crusade, part government-overreach meltdown.
Meanwhile, the memes write themselves. Top quip: forget infinite scroll—“kill the cookie popups” first. Another commenter derails into a Europe-vs‑USA culture roast (cue “1–2 hour coffee/smoke breaks” jokes), arguing these feel‑good rules are short‑sighted and won’t stop people from flocking to U.S. tech. Bottom line: whether you see a life raft for kids or a buzzkill for grownups, the EU is taking on the feed—and the internet’s got popcorn.
Key Points
- •The European Commission found TikTok’s design addictive and demanded changes including disabling infinite scrolling, enforcing screen-time breaks, and modifying recommender systems.
- •This is the first time the Commission set out a stance on social media design under the Digital Services Act, treating addictive design as an enforceable risk.
- •TikTok can review evidence and challenge the findings; failure to comply could lead to fines up to 6% of annual global revenue.
- •Meta’s Facebook and Instagram have been under EU investigation since May 2024 for addictive design and potential risks to children; their algorithms are under scrutiny.
- •Other TikTok concerns were settled amicably; changes are expected to take time as the platform reviews evidence and negotiates solutions.