EU Commission Warns Meta to Change Addictive Features on Facebook and Instagram

The European Commission (EC) warned on Friday that tech company Meta must change the "addictive design" of its platforms Facebook and Instagram or risk a significant fine.

The EC accused the U.S. company of failing to limit risks posed to users, particularly children and vulnerable adults, due to features designed to encourage continued use, such as infinite scrolling, highly personalized feeds, and auto-play videos.

In a preliminary review, the EC stated Meta must implement design changes, including disabling key addictive features by default, introducing effective screen time breaks, and adjusting recommendation systems to be less engagement-focused.

Meta said it disagreed with the conclusions but would continue to "constructively cooperate" with the EU. The company noted it has already taken steps to protect teens, such as teen accounts that allow parents to block nighttime access and limit screen time to 15 minutes per day.

The EC argues that current time management tools can be easily ignored and parental controls only work if parents have technical knowledge. The Commission also found that Meta failed to adequately report the time children spend on apps at night.

If the EC's preliminary findings are confirmed, Meta could face a fine of up to 6% of its annual global turnover. The investigation under the Digital Services Act began in 2024.

On Monday, an expert commission led by EC President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to issue recommendations on better protecting children online. Several EU countries, including France, are pushing for a ban on social media for minors, while Australia last year became the first country to ban social media for under-16s.