Meta has been told by the European Union (EU) to redesign some of its main features on Facebook and Instagram, as the platforms can pose risks to users, especially children, and make them feel compelled to use the services excessively.
The European Commission’s preliminary results indicate that Meta is not sufficiently lowering the risks of some of the features that can prompt users to spend extended time on the platforms.
Under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), Meta could be fined up to 6 percent of global sales if the results are upheld.
The EU has raised concerns about the addictive features.The EU has pointed out the addictive features.
The Commission noted several features, such as infinite scrolling, automatically playing videos, and highly personalised content recommendations, that can create the potential for compulsive use of Facebook and Instagram.
Online platforms have to do more to safeguard the physical and mental health of users in Europe, said EU Technology Commissioner Henna Virkkunen.
The Commission recommended that Meta consider allowing users to opt out of some of the features. These range from the ability to opt out of autoplay, restricting infinite scrolling, and using effective screen-time reminders and decreasing the focus of engagement-based recommendation systems.
Meta rejects findings
Meta did not agree with the initial analysis made by the Commission, but noted it plans to keep cooperating with European regulators.
The company said it has made substantial changes in the way it helps protect younger users, such as the provision of Instagram’s Teen Accounts, which enable parents to set time limits and block their teens from using Instagram at night.
The EU’s assessment of its efforts to enhance child safety on its platforms was an area of disagreement between the bloc and Meta.
However, there was disagreement between the EU and Meta over the extent to which the EU’s assessment matched the steps that the company has already taken to improve child safety on its platforms.
Investigation continues
The inquiry started in 2024 in the context of the EU’s most stringent law to date to hold large tech firms more accountable, the Digital Services Act.
The regulators also wondered if Facebook and Instagram offered adequate parental controls and effective tools to help manage kids’ time on the apps.
The Commission also pointed to concerns regarding algorithmic recommendations which might repeatedly show users similar or more extreme content, which is sometimes known as a “rabbit hole” effect.
The probe is ongoing as the EU rolls out wider measures to bolster protections for its online citizens, including children.