European Union. What is the “rabbit hole” effect, which is worth investigating at TikTok?

With its powerful but very secret algorithm, has TikTok violated the European rules on digital services (DSA) ? The European Commission launched an investigation last week to determine this.

The health and safety of minors in question

The European digital policeman will have to determine whether the social network endangers minors. In his communicatedthe Commission considers “that such an assessment is necessary to counter the potential risks for the exercise of the fundamental right to the physical and mental well-being of the person, respect for the rights of the child as well as its impact on the processes of radicalization.”

She then details the purpose of her investigation: age verification, transparency of advertising, access to data for researchers… but above all the very design of the platform, suspected of making “addicted” to content deemed harmfulas Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for the Internal Market, reminds us on X (ex-Twitter).

It evokes the “rabbit hole” effect – “rabbit hole” in French. We already knew the effect of “filter bubbles”, which locks the user of a social network into a homogeneous whole, gradually cutting him off from other subjects or people.

The “rabbit hole” effect is worse: unlike a static “bubble”, the “rabbit hole” effect rather designates a spiral, which pulls towards the bottom, into the dark. And therefore to be confronted with ever more harmful subjects, based on previous viewing, among an adolescent population more likely to be on the lookout for transgressive content.

Secret algorithms

Secrets, TikTok’s algorithms “are neither good nor bad”, puts information science researcher Olivier Ertzscheid into perspective with the World. But young users can quickly be trapped “in a negative ‘rabbit hole’ from the moment interactions with hurtful or offensive content take place,” he adds.

In 2023, Amnesty International published “two reports highlighting the harm suffered by children and young people using TikTok”: the first, entitled “Pushed towards darkness”, accuses the social network of encouraging “self-harm and suicidal ideation” and risks “aggravating” mental health problems. In its second report, Amnesty denounces “abusive” data collection, fueled by dangerous practices.

TikTok defends itself

Regularly attacked, TikTok is increasingly playing the transparency card. It claims to be “a pioneer who has developed features and settings aimed at protecting adolescents”. When contacted, the platform replied that it had been informed of the opening of an investigation, but had “at this stage received no other communication” from the Commission. It ensures that it does everything possible to comply with the Digital Service Act (DSA), while excluding in advance “the extraction of data from the application” (the algorithm).

However, it lists the latest modifications made, aimed for example at “avoiding serial recommendations” on themes “potentially problematic if viewed repeatedly (intense physical exercise, diets, sad content, etc.)”. TikTok also reminds that it filters “harmful” content, and limits the screen time of young people. Finally, the company promises to commit to mental health by promoting “positive conversations”. If the findings of the investigation lead to sanctioning TikTok, the Commission could impose a fine of up to 6% of its global turnover, in addition to a wide range of other measures.