The European Union (EU) has warned that Meta must change Facebook’s and Instagram’s “addictive” design or face a heavy fine.
It is understood that the EU is facing pressure to act, with countries including France pushing for a social media ban for minors following Australia’s restrictions for under-16s.
The EU, in its preliminary findings, said features such as infinite scroll, autoplaying videos, and personalised recommendations could encourage “compulsive use,” particularly among children and teens.
Meta could be fined up to 6% of its total annual global turnover if it fails to make suitable changes.
A spokesperson for the tech giant told the BBC it disagreed with the findings “which don’t accurately take into account the significant steps we’ve taken to protect teens.”
The Commission said in its preliminary findings that the endless stream of content “shifts the brain into autopilot mode, contributing to unhealthy habits.”
“Protecting the physical and mental health of Europeans must be a priority for social media platforms,” EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said in a statement.
The Commission said Meta failed to adequately assess the risks posed by the design of Facebook and Instagram, as well as by how long children spend on the platforms, particularly at night.
It raised concerns about features such as Reels and Stories, arguing they could contribute to excessive use, and claimed Meta’s safeguards do not go far enough.
The commission also criticised Meta’s parental controls, arguing that they are only effective if parents have the time and technical expertise to understand and use them properly.
But Meta said it had rolled out Teen Accounts that “automatically protect teens and put parents in control – allowing them to block access to Instagram at night and cap daily screen time at just 15 minutes.”
