The European Commission has concluded that Meta breached the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) by failing to adequately address risks created by the design of Facebook and Instagram. Regulators said the platforms contain features that encourage compulsive use, particularly among younger users, and warned the company it could face fines of up to 6% of its global annual revenue if it does not make changes.
According to the Commission’s preliminary findings, Meta’s platforms rely on design elements such as infinite scrolling, autoplay, highly personalized recommendations, Reels, Stories, and frequent push notifications that can contribute to addictive behavior. Regulators argue these features may negatively affect users’ mental and physical well-being, especially children and teenagers.
The Commission also criticized Meta’s existing safeguards, saying parental controls and screen time management tools are not sufficient to reduce the risks. Officials want the company to introduce more effective measures, including disabling autoplay and infinite scrolling by default, encouraging users to take breaks, and reducing reliance on recommendation systems designed to maximize engagement.
The findings are the result of an investigation launched in May 2024 under the Digital Services Act, which requires very large online platforms to identify and mitigate systemic risks associated with their services. Regulators said Meta did not properly assess the impact of its platform design on users’ health and failed to implement adequate protections for minors.
Meta rejected the Commission’s conclusions, arguing it has invested heavily in protecting younger users. The company pointed to its Teen Accounts, which include stricter default privacy settings, parental supervision tools, and built-in limits on who can contact younger users. Meta said it will continue engaging with European regulators throughout the proceedings.
The Commission’s findings are preliminary, meaning no financial penalty has been imposed at this stage. Meta will have an opportunity to review the evidence and respond before the Commission reaches a final decision. If the company ultimately fails to comply with the Digital Services Act, the EU can impose fines of up to 6% of its worldwide annual turnover and require changes to how Facebook and Instagram operate within the bloc.