EU threatens Meta with fines over ‘addictive’ Facebook and Instagram
The EU warned Meta must change the “addictive” design of Facebook and Instagram or face a hefty fine.
In its preliminary findings, the European Commission said features such as infinite scrolling, auto-playing videos and personalized recommendations could encourage “compulsive use”, especially among children and teenagers.
If Meta does not make appropriate changes, it could be fined up to 6% of its total global annual turnover.
A spokesman for the tech giant told the BBC it disagreed with the findings, which “do not properly take into account the important steps we have taken to protect young people”.
In preliminary findings, the Commission said the endless stream of content “contributes to unhealthy habits by putting the brain on autopilot mode.”
There is particular concern about the impact of social media platforms on young users.
“Protecting the physical and mental health of Europeans must be a priority for social media platforms,” EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen said in a statement. he said.
The commission said Meta had failed to adequately consider the risks posed by how Facebook and Instagram were designed, as well as how much time children spent on the platforms, especially at night.
He raised concerns about features such as Reels and Stories, arguing that they could contribute to overuse, and claimed that Meta’s protections did not go far enough.
Time management tools on Facebook and Instagram, including those enabled by default for young people, may be deprecated and will not meaningfully reduce usage, the commission said.
He also criticized Meta’s parental controls, arguing that they can only be effective if parents have the time and technical expertise to understand and use them correctly.
But Meta said it’s rolling out Teen Accounts that “automatically protect teens and put parents in control, allowing them to block access to Instagram at night and limit screen time to just 15 minutes per day.”
