The sunshine model of the TikTok app, which launched in two EU international locations a few weeks in the past, included a reward function that paid customers a small quantity every day to interact with movies. European regulators launched an inquiry quickly after, citing the function’s potential for encouraging habit — significantly in younger folks. TikTok responded at present by suspending the function within the EU whereas it addresses the investigation.

TikTok Lite is designed as a light-weight different to the primary TikTok app for simpler use on gradual web connections. It has been out there in components of Asia for years and grew to become out there in France and Spain earlier this month. Contained in the app is a rewards hub that pays customers in “cash” for doing issues like logging in, watching adverts, and liking movies. Cash may be redeemed for issues like Amazon vouchers and PayPal reward playing cards. However it’s a must to do an entire lot of participating to make any important amount of cash — an hour of watching movies solely earns about 36 euro cents (or 38 cents).

Citing the EU’s Digital Companies Act, the fee took motion, stating it had specific considerations in regards to the reward function’s doubtlessly “addictive impact” on kids. Talking to Reuters, a TikTok spokesperson emphasised that the function isn’t out there to customers beneath 18, however the European Fee’s criticism means that TikTok’s age verification mechanisms is probably not sturdy sufficient to stop children from signing up anyway.