TikTok Lite: You Will No Longer Be Able to Earn Money by Watching Videos
TikTok Lite previously allowed users to earn money by watching videos. However, a new EU law has ended this practice.
Do you spend your free time watching videos on TikTok? Thanks to its algorithm, it offers a personalized feed that can be highly addictive. ByteDance, the company behind the Chinese social network, took this concept further by allowing users to earn money simply by watching videos or giving "likes." This feature was available on TikTok Lite, the new app quietly launched by the Chinese giant at the end of March in France and Spain.
But the European Commission has now definitively ended this "reward" function, as announced on Monday, August 5, by Thierry Breton, the European Commission's top tech enforcer, on X. "We suspect TikTok 'Lite' could be as toxic and addictive as cigarettes 'light'," said the European Digital Commissioner. "Unless TikTok provides compelling proof of its safety, which it has failed to do until now, we stand ready to trigger DSA interim measures including the suspension of TikTok Lite features" highlighting the risks such a reward system could pose.
Presented as a data-efficient version of the original social network, TikTok Lite features an interface almost identical to its predecessor, with one exception: a tab called "Rewards" and a system of virtual coins to accumulate. Users could earn 300 tokens for registering, an additional 4,500 for logging in daily for ten days, 4,200 coins for watching 25 minutes of video, and 150 tokens for following three creators or liking three videos. These coins could be redeemed for vouchers or gift certificates on sites like Amazon and PayPal, or to reward content creators through virtual gifts. However, it would take considerable time to accumulate enough coins to purchase anything, as 10,000 coins were worth just one euro.
It is not surprising that TikTok Lite immediately raised many concerns. Establishing a financial incentive for excessive content consumption contradicts recommendations regarding screen time and addictive behaviors linked to social networks, particularly among young people. The European Commission launched an investigation into the new app on April 22, threatening to suspend the reward feature from April 25. The investigation found that the mechanism posed "serious risks to users' mental health." Additionally, ByteDance had not communicated a risk assessment to Brussels, as required under the new Digital Services Act (DSA).
Under pressure, TikTok announced it was "voluntarily" suspending the feature temporarily. The social network also said: "We are disappointed with this decision -- the TikTok Lite rewards hub is not available to under 18s, and there is a daily limit on video watch tasks."