EU Threatens Meta with Fines Over Addictive Features on Facebook and Instagram

Meta is in breach of the Digital Services Act, the European Commission has announced, due to its use of features like infinite scroll, autoplay, and highly personalized recommendation algorithms on Facebook and Instagram.

These features, the Commission says, contribute to unhealthy habits and compulsive use by fueling the user's urge to keep scrolling and shifting the brain into "autopilot mode." The Commission found that Meta failed to adequately assess the risks posed by the addictive design of its platforms to users' physical and mental wellbeing, including minors and vulnerable adults.

The Commission also accused Meta of ignoring evidence about the amount of time minors spend on Instagram and Facebook at night and how features such as Reels and Stories could encourage excessive or compulsive use of the platforms.

"Evidence also shows that Meta's current mitigation measures failed to effectively tackle the risks stemming from its addictive design," the Commission wrote. "For example, Instagram's and Facebook's time management tools, including those activated by default for teens, can be easily dismissed and do not lead to a meaningful reduction and control of the usage of the service."

The Commission is calling on Meta to disable key addictive features, such as autoplay and infinite scroll by default, and to introduce effective screen-time breaks, as well as modify its recommendation algorithm to make it less focused on user engagement.

The findings are not final, and Meta will now have the opportunity to review the evidence against it and submit a formal response. If the Commission's findings are confirmed, Meta faces a fine of up to 6% of its total global annual turnover.

Meta has faced scrutiny in the U.S. for failing to protect young users on its platforms, with four U.S. states seeking $1.4 trillion in penalties over claims that the tech giant designed Facebook and Instagram to addict young users and that it misled the public about the platforms' safety.

The Commission's announcement marks the second time this year that the EU Commission has found Meta of breaching its laws. In April, the Commission found that Meta was failing to prevent children under 13 from using Facebook and Instagram.

• The Commission's findings highlight the need for social media companies to prioritize user wellbeing and safety.

• The EU's approach to regulating social media is a significant step towards holding tech giants accountable for their actions.

• The outcome of this case will have far-reaching implications for the social media industry and its approach to user engagement.

"The Commission's decision is a major victory for public health and consumer protection," said a spokesperson for the European Commission. "We will continue to work with Meta to ensure that its platforms are safe and healthy for users."

Meta has yet to respond to the Commission's findings, but the tech giant faces a significant fine if the Commission's findings are confirmed. The case highlights the need for social media companies to prioritize user wellbeing and safety, and the EU's approach to regulating social media is a significant step towards holding tech giants accountable for their actions.