Meta Accused by European Commission of Creating Addictive Instagram and Facebook Designs

European Commission Takes on Meta

According to Главком: After a two-year investigation, the European Commission has issued a preliminary finding that Meta violated the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) due to the design of Instagram and Facebook, which regulators claim can foster addiction. The Commission argues that Meta failed to properly assess the risks these platforms pose to users’ physical and mental health. Specific features under scrutiny include:

• highly personalized recommendations,
• auto-playing videos,
• infinite scrolling,
• and the Reels and Stories formats.

The Commission is demanding that Meta disable auto-play and infinite scrolling by default, introduce mandatory breaks within the apps, and redesign its recommendation engine to focus less on keeping users engaged. If Meta does not comply, it could face a fine of up to 6% of its global annual revenue. The company has the opportunity to submit a written response before the Commission makes its final decision.

Meta’s Response and Broader Implications

Ben Walters, a Meta spokesperson, stated that

“they are not taking into account the steps the company has already taken to protect teens.”

He added that Meta will 'continue to engage constructively with the regulator.' The company has already rolled out teen accounts with automatic protections and expanded parental controls, which allow parents to block Instagram usage at night and limit daily screen time to 15 minutes.

The pressure on Big Tech is not limited to Meta. In February, the EU leveled similar accusations against TikTok. Last month, Meta failed to get a lawsuit dismissed that was filed by attorneys general from 29 U.S. states. The Commission is also investigating the so-called 'rabbit hole effect' and reviewing measures to restrict access for children under 13. On Monday, the Commission is expected to receive expert findings that could lead to a potential ban on social media for teenagers-an initiative anticipated from Ursula von der Leyen in her September address.

In April, the European Commission previously charged Meta with insufficient child safety measures regarding adult content. Meanwhile, the EU has permitted the scanning of private chats as part of efforts to combat child pornography. Earlier, the Commission imposed fines on companies like X (€120 million) and Temu (€200 million) for DSA violations.

This situation underscores the growing regulatory pressure on tech companies in Europe, aimed at ensuring user safety, particularly for teenagers. The European Commission’s demands could set a precedent for other countries also seeking to regulate social media’s impact on young people. It will be important to watch Meta’s next moves and how other tech giants respond to similar requirements.

The scrutiny surrounding Meta’s platforms is part of a larger trend, as regulators increasingly target social media giants over user engagement practices. For a deeper understanding of the implications of these allegations and how they relate to similar cases involving other platforms, check out our coverage on potential fines against Meta for addiction claims.