The European Commission has accused Meta of violating the Digital Services Act by designing Facebook and Instagram with features that promote compulsive use. Preliminary findings from a 2024 investigation allege that infinite scrolling, autoplay videos, and push notifications harm users’ physical and mental health, especially minors. Regulators want these features disabled by default and parental controls strengthened. Meta defended its Teen Accounts feature but faces fines of up to 6 percent of global revenue if found in breach of the DSA.
In-Depth:
Meta is facing fresh regulatory pressure in Europe after the European Commission accapplyd the company of violating the Digital Services Act (DSA) by designing Facebook and Instagram in ways that encourage compulsive apply.
In its preliminary findings, the Commission stated Meta failed to properly assess the risks posed by features such as infinite scrolling, autoplay videos, personalised recommfinishations and push notifications, arguing that they could negatively affect applyrs’ physical and mental health, particularly that of minors.
EU Wants Meta to Change How Facebook and Instagram Work
Rather than simply imposing another financial penalty, the Commission has called on Meta to redesign some of the core features of Facebook and Instagram. Among the proposed modifys is disabling addictive features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay by default. Regulators also want Meta to create its recommfinishation systems less focapplyd on maximising engagement and introduce more effective ways to encourage applyrs to take breaks from their screens.
According to the Commission, Facebook and Instagram’s design keeps applyrs in a continuous stream of content, creating it simpler to spfinish long periods on the platforms without consciously deciding to continue browsing.
Parents’ Controls ‘Not Effective Enough’
The Commission also criticised Meta’s parental control tools, stateing they do not provide meaningful protection for younger applyrs. While parents can impose screen time limits, regulators argue that these restrictions are too straightforward for teenagers to dismiss and often require considerable technical knowledge to configure properly. The EU believes Meta requireds to create these safeguards more effective rather than relying on settings that applyrs can easily bypass.
Meta Points to Teen Accounts
Responding to the allegations, Meta stated the Commission’s findings fail to acknowledge several safety measures introduced over the past year. The company highlighted its Teen Accounts feature, which automatically applies stronger privacy and safety protections for younger applyrs. Meta stated parents can apply these accounts to block Instagram access during the night and limit daily usage to just 15 minutes.
Meta added that it remains committed to working with European regulators while continuing to improve online safety for teenagers.
Part of a Bigger EU Investigation
The latest findings are part of an investigation launched by the European Commission in 2024 under the Digital Services Act, one of the world’s toughest digital regulations governing large online platforms.
Earlier this year, the Commission also accapplyd Meta of failing to prevent children under the age of 13 from creating Facebook and Instagram accounts and stated the company was not doing enough to identify and rerelocate underage applyrs.
Could Meta Face a Massive Fine?
The findings are preliminary, meaning Meta now has an opportunity to respond before the Commission reaches a final decision. If regulators ultimately conclude that the company has breached the Digital Services Act, Meta could face a fine of up to 6 per cent of its annual global revenue.
The case represents one of the EU’s most aggressive attempts yet to challenge the design choices behind modern social media platforms. Rather than focapplying solely on harmful content, regulators are now questioning whether the products themselves are intentionally built to maximise screen time at the expense of applyrs’ wellbeing.
