What's happened
The European Commission has issued preliminary findings under the Digital Services Act, saying Meta’s Instagram and Facebook display addictive features such as autoplay and infinite scroll. It demands design changes, screen-time breaks, and a less engagement-driven recommender system, warning of up to 6% of global revenue in fines if Meta fails to comply. Meta says it has already begun protections for teens and will engage with Brussels.
What's behind the headline?
Context and implications
- The EU’s move underscores a broader shift to hold platforms accountable for design that drives compulsive use.
- The findings could force Meta to disable key features by default, alter recommendations, and improve screen-time controls.
- This comes as EU states push for stricter controls on minors, with France and others weighing more robust protections.
What this means for readers
- Teens may benefit from stronger protections and clearer parental controls, but platforms face potential revenue impacts if they must disable core engagement features.
- If Meta complies, it could set a precedent for other platforms under the DSA to redesign interfaces to reduce addictive design.
Risks and next steps
- The final decision could include heavy fines if Meta resists changes.
- Meta has argued it has taken steps like Teen Accounts, but regulators say controls are easily overridden. The situation remains dynamic as Brussels awaits final judgments.
How we got here
EU regulators launched the Digital Services Act probe in 2024, focusing on how Meta’s design features affect children and other users. The preliminary findings come ahead of an expert panel’s recommendations on safeguarding minors online and amid ongoing EU-framed pressure on Big Tech to curb harmful online behavior.
Our analysis
France 24, AP News, Politico all report preliminary findings under the EU’s Digital Services Act against Meta, citing demands to disable autoplay and infinite scroll, implement screen-time breaks, and adjust the recommendation algorithm.
Go deeper
- Will Meta comply with the EU’s design changes by default or seek exemptions?
- What protections for minors are most likely to be implemented next by Brussels?
- How might this affect other platforms under the DSA in the near term?
More on these topics
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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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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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Meta Platforms, Inc. - 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
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European Union
The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. Its members have a combined area of 4,233,255.3 km² and an estimated total population of about 447 million.
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Digital Services Act - European Union Regulation on strengthening consumer protection for digital services and products
The Digital Services Act is an upcoming package announced by the European Commission. Its expressed purpose is to update the European Union's legal framework, in particular by modernising the e-Commerce Directive adopted in 2000.
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Henna Virkkunen - Member of the European Parliament
Henna Maria Virkkunen is a Finnish politician who serves as Executive Vice-president of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy since 1 December 2024.