The European Union has accused Meta of violating its Digital Services Act by designing Facebook and Instagram features that regulators believe encourage excessive and addictive use, particularly among younger users. The European Commission has issued preliminary findings after a two-year investigation and warned that Meta must make significant changes or face financial penalties that could reach up to six percent of its global annual revenue.
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According to the Commission, highly personalized recommendations, autoplay, infinite scrolling, reels, and stories can encourage users to spend excessive time on the platforms. Regulators argued that these design features increase the risk of compulsive behavior, especially among teenagers, and said Meta failed to properly assess or reduce the potential harm associated with its recommendation systems.
The Commission also criticized Meta’s current safety measures, stating that existing screen-time management tools can be easily ignored while parental controls require considerable effort and technical knowledge to activate. Regulators have urged the company to disable autoplay and infinite scrolling by default, introduce more effective screen-time reminders, and redesign recommendation algorithms to prioritize user wellbeing over engagement.
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Meta has rejected the preliminary findings, saying the investigation does not fully recognize the steps it has already taken to protect younger users. The company pointed to its Teen Accounts feature, which automatically applies safety settings, allows parents to restrict nighttime access, and enables daily screen-time limits. Meta said it will continue working with European regulators throughout the legal process.
The company now has an opportunity to respond before the European Commission issues its final decision in the coming months. Meanwhile, the investigation forms part of broader efforts by European authorities to strengthen online child safety, with additional reviews examining recommendation algorithms, age verification measures, and possible restrictions on teenage social media use across the European Union.