European Union Demands Meta Disable Digital Addiction Interfaces on Facebook and Instagram
Brussels, July 10 (KUNA) -- The European Commission announced on Friday that the US company Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, had initially breached the European Digital Services Act through a “addictive” design that encourages users, particularly minors, to spend long periods on the platforms. The Commission ordered the digital giant to disable “autoplay” and “infinite scroll” by default and to modify its recommendation systems to reduce the time spent on the two popular social media services.
In its preliminary findings, the Commission stated that its investigation showed Meta had not adequately assessed the risks posed by the design of Facebook and Instagram to the physical and mental health of users, including minors and other vulnerable groups. The investigation focused on features such as infinite scroll, automatic content playback, instant notifications, and highly personalized recommendation systems, considering that these features encourage users to continue browsing content automatically and contribute to the formation of unhealthy usage habits and compulsive behaviors.
The Commission added that the company had not taken into account available data on the time minors spend on the two platforms during nighttime hours, nor the impact of optimizing various content formats, such as short videos and stories, on increasing the likelihood of excessive or compulsive use.
The Commission criticized Meta’s current measures to mitigate these risks, noting that usage time management tools, including those enabled by default for teenagers, can be easily bypassed and do not lead to a genuine reduction in usage duration. Furthermore, parental control tools require technical expertise, time, and effort from parents, which limits their effectiveness. The Commission also pointed out that Meta’s awareness-raising measures, such as tips and links to mental health resources via its Safety Center, are insufficient to mitigate the risks associated with addictive design.
Meta was ordered to make changes to the design of Facebook and Instagram, including disabling autoplay and infinite scroll by default, implementing effective screen time breaks, and modifying recommendation systems to reduce their focus on increasing engagement and extending usage duration.
Henna Vihriälä, Commissioner for Technology, Digital Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy, stated in a press release that “protecting the physical and mental health of Europeans must be a priority for social media platforms.”
For its part, Meta rejected the Commission’s preliminary findings. Its spokesperson, Ben Walters, said the company disagrees with the conclusions, arguing that they do not reflect the steps it has taken to protect teenagers, pointing to the launch of “Teen Accounts,” which provide automatic protection and parental control tools, including blocking Instagram use at night and setting daily usage limits.
The Commission clarified that the current findings do not constitute a final decision and that Meta will have the opportunity to submit its response before the final decision is issued in the coming months. It warned that the company could face fines of up to six percent of its total global annual revenue if the violations are confirmed. (End) A.R.N. / M.A.K.
