The European Commission concluded Thursday that Meta Platforms' addictive design features on Facebook and Instagram violate the Digital Services Act, marking a major regulatory escalation against the tech giant. Regulators cited infinite scroll, autoplay videos, push notifications, and highly personalized recommendation systems as features that shift users into autopilot mode and foster compulsive use.
The commission accused Meta of disregarding internal information about children's nighttime usage and failing to adequately assess risks to the physical and mental health of minors and vulnerable adults. If confirmed, Meta could face fines of up to 6% of its global annual turnover, potentially reaching 11 billion euros based on 2025 revenue figures. The commission has demanded that Meta disable these features by default.
Meta disputed the findings, saying it disagrees with the preliminary view and noting it has implemented Teen Accounts with parental controls to protect young users. The investigation, launched in May 2024, also examines potential rabbit-hole effects on youth.