The company has agreed to desist from using the “Lite” reward system in the future as a result of the investigation. This movement is witnessing one of the world’s most widely used social media platforms striving to follow the EU Digital Services Act adopted in 2020. Therefore, let us talk about the prospects of TikTok for audiences and app.
TikTok Lite
TikTok Lite is quite similar to TikTok but it’s the smaller version or the ‘younger brother’ of TikTok in terms of system requirements and internet consumption on the smartphones. However, what made TikTok Lite even more appealing was the presence of the Rewards Programme. This feature enabled users to earn points for activities that they engaged in anyway: subscribing to videos or creators, liking posts, following profiles, or even inviting friends to the application.
The EU’s Concerns
After its launching in France and Spain, the EU began monitoring TikTok Lite’s reward program in April. The concern? On children and general users’ experience. In the DSA realms, Big Teches need to inform the EU about the possible adverse impact of the new addition before going to the playground. They also have to be active in eliminating any risks – just like how we make sure that the slide or the swings will not be a threat to the children before we let them use it.
TikTok’s Commitment
Twitter has now legally obliged itself into anger to stop the Lite rewards program in the EU. They have also refrained from starting any new programs which would in one way or the other ignore this decision. One could view this move as TikTok grasping at the EU’s hand and vigorously shaking, promising never to be out of compliance. Should they refrain from fulfilling this promise, then it is like going against the grain of the DSA and having penalties.
The EU is not restricting it to just the reward program only either. There is also another investigation that has been carried out in order to determine whether Tiktok has violated any online content policy. There are, in fact, some rules that exist to protect children.
This investigation, initiated in February, poses a great penalty to Tiktok.
Now that you understand its potential benefits, what does this all mean for TikTok users?
For the users in the EU, this implies that there will be no more TikTok Lite points for watching funny dances, lip-sync battles and the likes. Some of the disadvantages may sound quite similar to abandoning one more enjoyable mini-game within the application. However, in the positive aspect, this change will contribute to the improvement of the safety and health situation on the Internet particularly amongst children.
The Bigger Picture: A Safe Environment Online
This is an indication that deletion of the rewards program is a new development in the ongoing process of regulating the utilization of social media platforms. The EU is standing up to ensure that the social media media is safe to use as the users wish to. It seems as necessary as making sure the Internet world is protected in the same way that Real world is protected.
This is quite frustrating to many people, especially TikTok enthusiasts, but it does make a lot of sense as it ensures that users’ safety and well-being are put into consideration. Thus, the legislation such as the DSA is vital in preventing unauthorized access to the platform while maintaining the flow of accurate information in this dynamic digital world.
In Conclusion
Withdrawing the functionality of the Lite rewards program in the EU is a positive decision that will assist TikTok in addressing the DSA’s claims and making the internet a safer place. Therefore, although it can be very emotionally associated for some EU TikTok users, it highlights the emergence of the issue of user protection and reasonable digitalization.
