Published on October 2, 2024 at 8:05 p.m.
Mental health and social networks: the EU demands accountability from YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok – © /AP/SIPA
Social networks are often accused of harming the mental health of adolescents. This October 2, the European Commission called YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok to account, demanding information on their algorithms which allegedly promote the dissemination of “harmful” content.
Suicides broadcast live, attack videos, hate speech… Social networks like YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok are regularly accused of causing adolescent unhappiness to skyrocket. Long in denial, the web giants are now under pressure from international authorities demanding accountability. The European Commission is concerned about certain “harmful” content distributed on these platforms and is demanding, this Wednesday, October 2, information on the algorithms that promote them.
Recommendation systems and algorithms under review
Firstly, the digital policeman in the EU cites the need to protect minors and requires the three groups to provide “more information on the design and operation of their recommendation systems”. The European executive asks platforms to “adequately assess and mitigate the risks” linked to their online services, including potential harm to the mental health of users.
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Likewise, the dissemination of “harmful design-related content […] of these algorithms,” recalled the Commission in a press release. These are all obligations arising from the European Union’s Digital Services Regulation (DSA), which entered into force on February 17.
Risks to mental health and democratic processes
YouTube and Snapchat are in particular requested to provide “detailed information on the parameters used by their algorithms to recommend content”, as well as on “their role in amplifying certain risks”, including possible attacks on electoral processes and to civic discourse, the Commission clarified.
Finally, the two platforms will be ordered to communicate the measures taken to mitigate the influence of their algorithms on the promotion of hate speech and illegal drugs.
The Chinese social network TikTok was asked to provide more information on the means implemented to “avoid manipulation of its service by malicious actors” and “mitigate risks for elections, media pluralism and civic discourse.
Possible sanctions
The response from YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok is expected on November 15. “Based on the evaluation of the responses, the Commission will determine the next steps,” she stressed. The requests for information announced this Wednesday, October 2, do not constitute a challenge at this stage.
However, it is a first step in a procedure which can lead to the opening of a formal investigation, and ultimately to heavy financial sanctions in the event of proven violations of European regulations. This is not the first time that the content recommendation systems of these social networks have been at the heart of procedures.
