Social media. Entering into force on August 25, 2023, the Digital Services Act (DSA) aims to reduce the dissemination of illegal content and ensure that platforms that offer services are more transparent with users, in the European Union. Social networks have, among other things, the obligation to provide transparency reports, in order to ensure that they are compliant with the legislation. The idea is to understand a little better how they work.
One of the biggest mysteries of social networks lies in their algorithms. They decide what content is highlighted and recommended to users. On October 2, in a press release, the European Commission requested additional information from the TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube platforms regarding their recommendation algorithm, to better understand their design and operation. They have until November 15 to provide the requested details.
What the European Commission asks of social networks
On TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat, the recommendations algorithm suggests new content to users, related to what they usually consume. YouTube has already updated its algorithm for teenagers’ accounts, to prevent them from being in contact with harmful content, which affects their mental health. The aim of the European Commission is to verify that this algorithm “adequately assesses and mitigates the systemic risks linked to their recommendation systems, including risks to the mental health of users and the dissemination of harmful content”, can we read in a press release.
As for YouTube and Snapchat, they must provide information on their algorithm settings, especially after publishing information regarding elections, mental health, as well as the protection of minors, a key issue of the DSA. For TikTok, this request for information aims to prevent manipulation of the application by people deemed malicious. The platforms have until November 15 to provide a report, before the European Commission takes a decision on a potential investigation or imposes possible sanctions.
