EU Targets Addictive App Design

The European Commission said it will propose rules this year to limit platform features it calls 'addictive design' — specifically endless scrolling, autoplay, push notifications, and recommendation loops — and is rolling out an EU age‑verification app to enforce child‑safety rules. The move pairs UI/regulatory prescriptions with a technical age‑check intended for integration into member‑state digital wallets. — If adopted, the measures will force major platforms to redesign interfaces, create new enforcement infrastructure (age IDs), and spark debates about privacy, circumvention (VPNs/fake accounts), and whether child‑safety becomes a pretext for broader content control.