A Dutch court has ruled that Meta Platforms must overhaul how Facebook and Instagram display content for users in the Netherlands. The decision came after a case filed by the digital rights organization Bits of Freedom, which argued that Meta’s current timeline system violates the Digital Services Act by not giving users proper control over how their feeds are organized. Meta must make these changes by December 31, 2025.
The court found that while Facebook and Instagram allow users to switch to a chronological feed, the choice does not persist. Each time users reopen the app, the algorithmic feed returns automatically, forcing them to reset their preferences. Judges ruled that this design undermines user autonomy and transparency, concluding that it effectively nudges users toward algorithmic recommendations instead of respecting their chosen settings.
To address this issue, the court ordered Meta to implement a direct and lasting option that allows users to select between algorithmic and chronological timelines. The ruling requires that the user’s chosen preference must remain active across sessions, without being reset each time the app is closed. Meta must make these changes by December 31, 2025. If it fails to comply by that deadline, the company could face daily fines until full compliance is achieved.
Meta announced it plans to appeal the ruling, arguing that digital regulation should be enforced at the European Union level rather than through national courts. The company said it has already provided tools that let users view posts in chronological order, but the court found these options difficult to access and not truly persistent. For now, Meta remains obligated to meet the end-of-year deadline while the appeal is pending.
The case highlights growing scrutiny of social media platforms under the Digital Services Act, a major piece of EU legislation designed to increase transparency and user control online. The Dutch court’s ruling marks one of the first times a national authority has directly enforced DSA principles against a major tech company. Digital rights advocates have praised the decision, saying it reinforces the idea that users should be able to determine how they experience content instead of being steered by algorithms designed to maximize engagement.
For Meta, the ruling represents a significant operational challenge. The company must redesign two of its largest platforms to meet stricter standards of user consent and data transparency, at least for Dutch users. However, observers believe the change could influence how social media services operate across Europe, since implementing a separate system for one country may not be practical.
As the December 31 deadline approaches, regulators and privacy experts will be watching closely to see whether Meta introduces genuine control mechanisms or attempts to make minimal adjustments to comply with the letter of the law. The outcome will help shape how social platforms balance personalization, regulation, and user choice across the European market.