What's happened
The European Commission has preliminarily found that Meta’s Facebook and Instagram lack effective measures to prevent children under 13 from signing up and to identify and remove underage users. The finding, issued under the Digital Services Act, could lead to fines up to 6% of worldwide revenue; Meta will be able to respond with remedies before a final decision.
What's behind the headline?
What this means for users and platforms
- Meta is facing renewed regulatory pressure as the EU argues its current tools are insufficient to prevent under-13 sign-ups.
- The Digital Services Act requires concrete action, not just statements of policy, and a final decision could impose substantial fines.
Why now
- The findings come after a long-running, nearly two-year investigation that scrutinises age verification, reporting mechanisms, and the potential for addictive or harmful experiences for minors.
- Regulators have signalled a willingness to act as concerns about child safety online rise across member states.
What could change next
- Meta will have an opportunity to present remedies that strengthen age checks and risk assessments.
- A final decision could reshape how platforms verify ages and monitor minors, potentially prompting wider changes in the industry.
Reader takeaway
- If Meta is upheld, households may see tighter protections or changes that affect how young users access social platforms across the EU.
How we got here
The EU began a two-year probe into Meta in 2024 under the Digital Services Act. Investigations focus on how the platforms handle age verification, safety measures for minors, and overall risk management. Meta’s own terms set 13 as the minimum age, but concerns persist about underage access and exposure to age-inappropriate content.
Our analysis
The Independent reports that the European Commission has preliminarily found Meta’s services do not adequately prevent under-13 sign-ups or identify and remove such users, noting that violations can incur fines up to 6% of worldwide revenue. AP News mirrors these points and adds context about the Digital Services Act and the ongoing investigation. The Guardian also details the breach findings and the potential outcomes, including the possibility of hefty penalties and the broader debate about child safety online. Politico notes Meta can respond with remedies and references the Commission’s work on an EU-wide age-verification app. These sources collectively outline the preliminary nature of the findings, the potential consequences, and the regulatory framework governing Meta’s platforms in the EU.
Go deeper
- Is Meta currently implementing any new age-verification tools in the EU?
- What remedies could Meta propose to address under-13 access and reporting failures?
- How might EU regulators’ actions influence policies for other platforms?
More on these topics
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Facebook - Social media service
Facebook is an American online social media and social networking service based in Menlo Park, California and a flagship service of the namesake company Facebook, Inc.
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Instagram - Social networking service
Instagram is an American photo and video sharing social networking service owned by Facebook, created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger and originally launched on iOS in October 2010.
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European Commission - Governing body of protected sites
The European Commission is the executive branch of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the EU treaties and managing the day-to-day business of the EU.
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Meta - Social media company
Facebook, Inc. is an American social media conglomerate corporation based in Menlo Park, California. It was founded by Mark Zuckerberg, along with his fellow roommates and students at Harvard College, who were Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Mosk