Meta must change the “addictive” design of Facebook and Instagram or face a fine of up to 6% of its global annual turnover, the European Commission has warned. In a preliminary finding published on Friday, regulators said features such as infinite scroll, autoplaying videos and personalised recommendations encourage “compulsive use” – particularly among children and teens. The endless stream of content, the Commission argued, “shift[s] the brain into autopilot mode, contributing to unhealthy habits”.
Henna Virkkunen, the EU’s technology chief, said in a statement: “Protecting the physical and mental health of Europeans must be a priority for social media platforms.” The Commission found that Meta failed to adequately assess the risks posed by how Facebook and Instagram are designed, including the time children spend on the platforms, especially at night. It raised specific 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.
“EU warns Meta it must change 'addictive' Facebook and Instagram design or face fines of up to 6% of global turnover.”
Time-management tools on Facebook and Instagram, the Commission said, including those enabled by default for teenagers, can be dismissed and do not meaningfully reduce usage. Parental controls were also criticised as being only effective if parents have the time and technical expertise to understand and use them properly.
Meta disagreed with the findings. A spokesperson for the tech giant told the BBC they “don’t accurately take into account the significant steps we’ve taken to protect teens”. The company highlighted its Teen Accounts, which “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”. Meta can now review the evidence against it and submit its formal response.
“We share the European Commission’s commitment to providing teens with safe, positive online experiences and will continue to engage constructively with them,” the spokesperson added.
The EU has in recent months stepped up efforts to force big tech companies to better protect users online, especially children. The findings come ahead of recommendations expected on Monday from an expert panel tasked with proposing new ways to shield children from harmful online content. Meanwhile, the bloc is facing pressure to act, with countries including France pushing for a social media ban for minors following Australia’s restrictions for under-16s.