EU tells Meta to change Instagram and Facebook features or face fines

BRUSSELS: European Union regulators have issued preliminary findings accusing Meta Platforms of breaching the bloc’s tech rules, saying Instagram and Facebook include design features that encourage addictive use and must be changed or the company could face heavy penalties.

The European Commission said its findings followed a two-year investigation under the Digital Services Act, which requires major online platforms to do more against illegal and harmful content. According to the Commission, Meta did not properly assess the risks linked to highly personalised recommendations, autoplay and infinite scroll, features regulators say keep feeding users more content and encourage longer use.

The regulator said reels and stories on Facebook and Instagram could contribute to excessive or compulsive behaviour. It also criticised Meta’s existing safeguards, saying time-management tools are easy to dismiss and parental controls demand considerable time, effort and technical know-how to use effectively. The Commission said Meta should switch off features such as autoplay and infinite scroll by default, introduce meaningful screen-time breaks and reduce the extent to which its recommendation system is geared toward boosting engagement.

EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said the Commission’s view was that the current design was overly addictive and required changes. She told Reuters:

"Our starting point is that, based on our findings, this design is too addictive and changes need to be made"

She added that the next step would depend on whether Meta altered the design, otherwise a non-compliance decision could follow.

Meta rejected the preliminary findings. Company spokesperson Ben Walters said:

"We disagree with these preliminary findings, which don't accurately take into account the significant steps we've taken to protect teens"

He added:

Since this investigation began, we rolled out Teen Accounts that automatically protect teens and put parents in control - allowing them to block access to Instagram at night and cap daily screen time at just 15 minutes.

Meta also said it would continue engaging constructively with EU regulators. The company can now respond before the Commission issues a final ruling in the coming months. If found in breach, Meta could face a fine of up to 6% of its global annual turnover.

The case comes amid widening scrutiny of social media companies over concerns that their services may be contributing to a mental health crisis among children. Some governments have imposed or are considering bans for underage users. Meta last month also failed in an attempt to dismiss claims by 29 US state attorneys general that Facebook and Instagram are addictive to children.

The EU action mirrors charges brought against TikTok in February, when regulators sought similar app changes. The Commission is also separately examining so-called rabbit hole effects linked to Facebook and Instagram recommendation systems, where algorithmic suggestions may draw users into prolonged viewing of similar material. In another case announced in April, the Commission told Meta it must do more to stop children under 13 from accessing its social networks or risk fines.

The Commission is also due to receive expert findings on Monday that, could help lay the groundwork for a Europe-wide social media ban for teenagers that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to announce in her September state of the union address.