EU Demands Immediate Design Overhaul: Facebook and Instagram Must Disable 'Addictive' Features or Face Massive Fine

EU Demands Immediate Design Overhaul: Facebook and Instagram Must Disable 'Addictive' Features or Face Massive Fine​

The European Union has escalated its regulatory scrutiny against Meta Platforms, demanding that the company fundamentally alter the design of Facebook and Instagram. The bloc accused Meta of violating digital social media laws by deliberately engineering platforms that are highly addictive to users. This move comes under the strict mandates of the Digital Services Act, which holds tech giants accountable for user safety and mental health protection.

How the EU Accuses Meta of Designing Addictive Platforms​

The European Commission's preliminary findings state that Meta failed to sufficiently assess the risks its design choices pose to individuals, particularly minors. The Commission insists that key addictive features must be disabled by default. These demands include steps such as restricting infinite scrolling and controlling video autoplay functions on both platforms.

The EU noted that personalized recommendations and push notifications drive an endless stream of content. This mechanism is designed to put users into a state of "autopilot," thereby fueling compulsive usage habits. The Commission stated that these design features have led to the systematic engagement of users in ways detrimental to well-being.

Consequences of Non-Compliance Under Digital Services Act​

The charges issued by the EU’s executive arm underscore the severity of this digital crackdown. Meta now faces potential legal action should it fail to adequately address these findings before the Commission issues its final decision. The penalty for non-compliance could be a significant fine reaching up to 6 per cent of the company's global annual revenue.

The preliminary investigation comes after earlier concerns were raised by Brussels regarding children's safety online. Previously, the EU stated that Meta had not done enough to prevent children under 13 from creating accounts or subsequently identifying and removing underage users.

Meta Responds, Citing Teen Accounts and Parental Controls​

Meta issued a prepared statement on Friday challenging the preliminary findings of the European Commission. The company asserted that it has already taken substantial steps to safeguard younger users since the investigation began. These efforts include rolling out "Teen Accounts" which automatically protect teenagers and empower parents with specific controls.

Parents are now granted the ability to cap daily screen time on Instagram or block nighttime access, Meta stated. However, the Commission disputed this effectiveness, stating that such parental controls can be easily dismissed by users. Furthermore, it noted that implementing these controls requires significant technical knowledge and effort from parents.

Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen emphasized the EU's commitment to enforcing legislation holding platforms accountable for addictive design. She stated clearly that protecting the physical and mental health of Europeans must be a core priority for social media platforms like Meta.