The EU has warned that Meta must change the “addictive” design of Facebook and Instagram or face huge fines.
In its preliminary findings, the European Commission said that features such as infinite scroll, autoplaying videos and personalized recommendations could encourage “compulsive use”, especially among children and teenagers.
If Meta does not make the appropriate changes, it could be fined up to 6% of its total global annual turnover.
A spokesperson for the tech giant told the BBC that he disagreed with the findings, “which do not accurately take into account the important steps we have taken to protect teenagers”.
In preliminary findings, the Commission said that the endless stream of content “shifts the brain into autopilot mode, contributing to unhealthy habits”.
In particular, it is particularly concerned about the impact social media platforms are having on young users.
“Protecting the physical and mental health of Europeans must be a priority for social media platforms,” EU technology chief Hanna Virkkunen said in a statement.
The Commission said Meta failed to adequately assess the risks posed by how Facebook and Instagram were designed, as well as how much time children spend on the platforms, particularly at night.
It raised concerns about features such as Reels and Stories, arguing that they could contribute to excessive usage, and claimed that Meta’s security measures do not go far enough.
The Commission said that time-management tools on Facebook and Instagram, including those enabled by default for teenagers, can be dismissed and do not meaningfully reduce use.
And it also criticized Meta’s parental controls, arguing that they are only effective if parents have the time and technical expertise to understand them and use them properly.
But Meta said it has introduced teen accounts that “automatically protect teens and put parents in control – allowing them to block access to Instagram at night and limit daily screen time to just 15 minutes”.
