EU threatens Meta with huge fines over addictive platform design

The European Commission has preliminarily determined that Meta's design choices for Instagram and Facebook contribute to user addiction. The EU's executive arm is demanding significant changes to the platforms' default settings, including disabling auto-play content and infinite scrolling. It also wants Meta to implement effective time limits and modify recommendation algorithms that are designed to maximize user engagement.

These conclusions come as part of an investigation under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The Commission believes Meta must implement these design modifications for both Instagram and Facebook. This development precedes a recommendation from an EU expert group on establishing a minimum age for social media access.

Meta could face substantial fines, potentially reaching up to 6% of its global annual turnover, if it does not meet the European Commission's demands. The company now has the opportunity to review the evidence gathered by the EU and present its official defense. A Meta spokesperson stated that the company disagrees with the preliminary findings, asserting they do not accurately reflect the measures taken to protect teenagers, citing the 'Teen Accounts' feature introduced on Instagram in 2024. However, an EU official noted that these accounts can be easily deactivated and lack sufficient mechanisms to discourage excessive use.