The European Commission has found that Facebook and Instagram’s ‘addictive design’ may violate European law. The commission says that features such as autoplay, infinitely scrolling feeds, personalized recommendations, and push notifications could compromise users’ physical and mental wellbeing.

Investigation and Findings

The investigation, launched in 2024, looked into whether Meta is violating the EU’s Digital Services Act. The commission found that Meta has failed to adequately address or warn users of the risks associated with these features. Meta disputes the findings, stating that it has taken significant steps to protect teens, including rolling out ‘Teen Accounts’ that automatically protect teens and put parents in control.

The commission’s findings are preliminary, and Meta will have the opportunity to dispute them. If Meta is found in violation of the DSA, it could be fined as much as 6% of its global revenue, which could total over $12 billion.

Implications and Next Steps

The European Commission is calling for Meta to make significant changes to Facebook and Instagram, including disabling key addictive features such as autoplay and infinite scroll. The commission also wants Meta to adjust its ‘recommender system’ to make it less engagement-oriented.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.