Is social media addictive by design and can you beat the algorithm?

The EU plans new rules to curb harmful, addictive social media design, with a focus on protecting children.

Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc will target features that drive compulsive use, following scrutiny of TikTok and broader mental-health concerns.

Experts point to likes, autoplay, infinite scroll, and recommendation algorithms as key drivers of addictive behavior.

TikTok denies harmful intent, while alternative business models such as subscriptions are being discussed as a way to reduce engagement pressure.