EU preliminarily finds Meta in breach over “addictive” Instagram and Facebook design

The European Commission has preliminarily found Meta in breach of the Digital Services Act, ruling Instagram and Facebook's addictive design—infinite scroll, autoplay, personalised feeds—harms users, especially teens. Brussels wants autoplay and infinite scroll disabled by default, plus real screen time breaks. Meta faces a fine up to 6% of global turnover and disputes the findings, citing its Teen Accounts safeguards as adequate protection already in place.

The European Commission has issued preliminary findings accusing Meta of violating the Digital Services Act (DSA), arguing that Facebook and Instagram failed to properly assess and reduce the risks created by features designed to maximize user engagement. The findings specifically cite infinite scrolling, autoplay, Reels, Stories, and personalized recommendation systems. If the Commission ultimately concludes that Meta breached the law, the company could face fines of up to six percent of its annual global revenue. The Commission’s argument is not centered on the content users see. Instead, it focuses on how Facebook and Instagram are designed. Regulators argue that the […]...Keep on reading: The EU wants Facebook to stop keeping users endlessly scrolling

The European Commission has preliminarily found Meta in breach of the Digital Services Act for the addictive design of Instagram and Facebook. The investigation focuses on features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and the platforms' highly personalised recommender systems. Risk assessment The Commission's investigation indicates that Meta did not adequately assess the risks of its […]

New York —  The European Commission says Meta must make significant changes to Facebook and Instagram to address the “addictive design” of the social media platforms. Features on the apps such as autoplay, infinitely scrolling feeds, personalized recommendations and push notifications could compromise users’ “physical and mental wellbeing,” the commission said in a statement Thursday. It … The post Facebook and Instagram’s ‘addictive design’ may violate European law, EU Commission finds appeared first on Egypt Independent.

The European Commission issued preliminary findings on Friday accusing Meta of building Facebook and Instagram to be addictive, giving the company a formal opportunity to respond before Brussels reaches a final decision that could trigger fines of up to 6% of its global annual revenue. Based on Meta’s 2025 turnover of roughly $201 billion, that […] This story continues at The Next Web

The European Commission wants Meta to turn off autoplay and infinite scroll by default, add effective screen-time reminders, and reduce the emphasis its recommendation system places on driving engagement

Today, the European Commission (EC) has announced that it has preliminarily found Meta in breach of the EU's Digital Services Act for what it calls "the addictive design of Instagram and Facebook". Specifically, its investigation focuses on features like infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and the services' "highly personalized recommender systems". The EC's investigation indicates that Meta "did not adequately assess the risks of its addictive design on the physical and mental wellbeing of users, including minors and vulnerable adults". Highly personalized recommendations,...

Meta said that the early findings do not recognise the steps that the company has already taken.

A preliminary investigation by the bloc has found the social media giant is not doing enough to protect children using its platforms. Meta rejects the accusations, which could cost it 6% of its annual revenue in fines.

Bloc says some design features on platforms built by Meta can cause users' brains to go into 'autopilot mode'.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: The European Union is ramping up pressure on Meta to make big changes to Facebook and Instagram after the European Commission preliminarily found that features like autoplay, infinite scroll, and highly personalized content recommendations were addictive. On Thursday, the EC said its investigation indicated that "Meta did not adequately assess the risks of its addictive design on the physical and mental wellbeing of users, including minors and vulnerable adults." "These features fuel the user's urge to keep scrolling and shift the brain into 'autopilot mode,' contributing to unhealthy habits and compulsive use," the commission said. Over the next few months, Meta will have an opportunity to dispute the claims, and it has already taken a defensive stance. Meta's spokesperson, Ben Walters, told Reuters that Meta disagrees with the commission's preliminary findings, which supposedly "don't accurately take into account the significant steps we've taken to protect teens." "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," Walters said. However, the EC emphasized that Meta's current mitigation efforts, including time management tools activated by default for teens, "failed to effectively tackle the risks stemming from its addictive design." Additionally, parental controls were deemed "only effective if parents and guardians possess adequate technical expertise" and dedicated "effort and time to understand them effectively." "This undermines the efficiency of such measures in addressing the inherent risks posed by Instagram and Facebook's addictive design," the EC said, particularly for minors. At this stage, the EC recommended that Meta consider "disabling key addictive features such as 'autoplay' and 'infinite scroll' by default, implementing effective 'screen time breaks,' and adapting its recommender system to make it less engagement-oriented." If Meta fails to make changes to comply with the EU's Digital Services Act, the company risks fines up to 6 percent of its global annual turnover when the EC makes its final decision in the coming months. "Our starting point is that, based on our findings, this design is too addictive and changes need to be made," Henna Virkkunen, the EU's tech chief, told Reuters. "The next step is either that Meta changes its design or a non-compliance decision will follow," she said, noting in the press release that the EU's priority is "protecting the physical and mental health of Europeans." "The Digital Services Act provides a clear framework to hold platforms accountable for the addictive design and effects of their services," Virkkunen said. "We are fully committed to enforcing our legislation in Europe." The report also notes that the EC will share findings from experts on Monday that "could help pave the way for a Europe-wide social media ban for teenagers." It's not looking much better for Meta in the U.S., either. The company faces a lawsuit from 29 states that claim Meta's platforms addict kids. "That trial begins in August, and states may seek up to $1.4 trillion in penalties if Meta is found guilty," reports Ars. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

The European Union found that Meta services like Facebook and Instagram are too addictive by design.

European regulators told Meta on Friday to make big changes to Facebook and Instagram's "addictive" features -- or face steep fines.

If the regulator's views on Meta are confirmed, the EU can slap a fine of up to 6% of the company's total worldwide annual turnover.

The European Commission says Meta failed to protect users, especially teens, from Instagram and Facebook's addictive design, and the company could face massive fines.

The tech giant is in breach of the Digital Services Act by focusing on features like infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and the highly personalized recommendation algorithms, the European Commission said.

The European Union accused Meta on Friday of breaching its social media law by designing Facebook and Instagram to get users hooked, and demanded it disable “key addictive features” like infinite scrolling.The EU’s executive arm issued a fresh set of charges against Meta Platforms as part of its investigation under the 27-nation bloc’s strict digital rule book known as the Digital Services Act. The sweeping set of regulations from Brussels requires tech platforms to protect internet users under threat of hefty fines.The European Commission said Meta failed to properly assess the risks its design features pose to the physical and mental health of users, including minors. And while the company has tools and controls to help manage Facebook and Instagram use, it said they were easily overridden, dismissed, or technically challenging to use.Meta “needs to implement design changes” to Instagram and Facebook, such as disabling “key addictive features” like autoplay of videos and infinite scroll so they’re not turned on by default, the commission said in its preliminary findings.Meta now has the chance to respond and defend itself before the commission issues its final decision, which could result in a fine worth up to 6% of the company’s global annual revenue.Meta said Friday that the preliminary findings do not recognize the steps that the company has already taken to protect teens.“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 said in a prepared statement. “We share the European Commission’s commitment to providing teens with safe, positive online experiences and will continue to engage constructively with them.”Europe is committed to enforcing its legislation that holds platforms accountable for addictive design features, said Henna Virkkunen, an executive vice-president at the commission overseeing tech.“Protecting the physical and mental health of Europeans must be a priority for social media platforms,” Virkkunen said in a written statement.Facebook and Instagram design features, including personalized recommendations and push notifications, serve up an endless stream of content, putting users’ brains on “autopilot” and fueling compulsive use, the commission said.Meanwhile, screen time controls that parents can impose on their teens’ devices can be “easily dismissed” and don’t result in a meaningful reduction of use, the commission said. And the controls are undermined by the technical expertise, time and effort that parents need to understand and use them, it said.The commission’s proposed design changes also included finding better ways to encourage screen time breaks, and changing the content recommendation system so that it’s less “engagement-oriented.”The preliminary findings are the latest charges since Brussels opened its investigation in 2024 over concerns that the social media giant wasn’t doing enough to protect children online.The EU said earlier this year that Meta had failed to prevent children under 13, the company’s minimum age to use Facebook and Instagram, from signing up. It also said Meta was not doing enough to identify and remove underage users after they had opened accounts. —Kelvin Chan, AP Business Writer

Meta's Facebook and Instagram both use "addictive design" that could fall foul of the European Union's new Digital Services Act, and the European Commission has already preliminarily found Meta's iPhone apps are in breach of its rules.Instagram and Facebook's design may break the EU's rulesIn a press release shared today, July 10, the European Commission put Meta on notice. A few core aspects of Meta's smartphone apps are at the core of the Commission's investigation.Meta now has the right to defend itself. But if the Commission's preliminary findings are confirmed, Meta will be on the hook for a fine "proportionate to the nature, gravity, recurrence and duration of the infringement." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The European Commission has charged Meta with breaching the EU's Digital Services Act by building addictive design features into Facebook and Instagram, and wants features such as infinite scrolling switched off by default.

Brussels says Meta failed to properly assess or mitigate risks posed by infinite scroll, autoplay, and more

The EU has stepped up its efforts to force Big Tech to better protect users online, especially children.

Meta has been warned by the European Commission that its endlessly scrolling Facebook and Instagram feeds may violate the EU's new Digital Services Act rules. In preliminary findings published on Friday, the Commission said that its investigation into features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and highly personalized recommender systems, found that Meta "did not adequately assess the risks of their addictive design on the physical and mental wellbeing of users, including minors and vulnerable adults." From the press release: These features fuel the user's urge to keep scrolling and shift the brain into 'autopilot mode,' contributing to unhealthy habits and compulsive use. Moreover, Meta disregarded available information about the time minors spend on Instagram or Facebook at night and how the optimization of its different formats – such as reels and stories – could lead to excessive or compulsive use of the services.The Commission additionally criticized Meta's risk mitigation measures, saying that the platforms' time management tools could be easily dismissed and don't meaningfully limit the time users spend on the services. It also found fault with Meta's parental controls, which the Commission said were "only effective if parents and guardians possess adequate technical expertise, as well as devote effort and time to understand them." The Commission said that at this stage of its investigation, it believes Meta needs to make design changes to both Instagram and Facebook. These could include disabling addictive features such as autoplay and infinite scroll by default, introducing effective screen time breaks, and modifying its recommender system to make it less focused on driving engagement. Meta on Friday said it disagreed with the Commission's findings, claiming they "don't accurately take into account the significant steps we've taken to protect teens." The Commission said Meta now has the opportunity to exercise its right of defence by reviewing the documents in the investigation file and responding in writing to its preliminary findings. If those provisional conclusions are upheld, the company could face a fine of up to 6 percent of its global annual turnover.Tags: European Commission, European Union, Facebook, Instagram, MetaThis article, "EU: Facebook and Instagram's Infinite Scroll May Break Digital Rules" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

The European Commission's preliminary findings target infinite scroll, autoplay, and personalized recommendations, and could trigger a fine of up to 6% of Meta's global revenue

The European Union accused Meta on Friday of breaching its social media law by designing Facebook and Instagram to get users hooked, and demanded changes.

Regulators say features such as infinite scroll contribute to "compulsive use" and "unhealthy habits".

The European Commission has accused Meta Platforms' Instagram and Facebook of violating the European Union's technology rules, saying features such as autoplay, personalised recommendations and infinite scroll are designed to keep users engaged for longer periods.The preliminary findings came after a two-year investigation under the EU's Digital Services Act, which requires major online platforms to take greater responsibility for tackling illegal and harmful content.Regulators flag risks of excessive useThe EU's technology regulator said Meta had failed to properly assess the addictive risks linked to highly personalised recommendations, autoplay and infinite scroll, which continuously provide users with new content and encourage prolonged engagement, Reuters reported.It said features such as reels and stories on Facebook and Instagram could contribute to excessive or compulsive use.The Commission criticised Meta's steps to address these concerns, saying time management tools could be easily ignored, while parental controls required considerable time, effort and technical expertise to be used effectively.Meta asked to disable features by defaultThe Commission said Meta should disable autoplay and infinite scroll by default, introduce effective screen-time breaks and make its recommendation systems less focused on increasing user engagement."We disagree with these preliminary findings, which don't accurately take into account the significant steps we've taken to protect teens," Meta spokesperson Ben Walters said."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 said it would continue to engage constructively with EU regulators."Our starting point is that, based on our findings, this design is too addictive and changes need to be made," EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen told Reuters.Meta faces possible 6% turnover fine"The next step is either that Meta changes its design or a non compliance decision will follow."Meta faces a possible fine of up to 6% of its global annual turnover. The company can respond to the charges before the Commission issues a final decision in the coming months.The company last month failed in its attempt to dismiss claims by 29 US state attorneys general that Facebook and Instagram are addictive to children.Netflix Brings Back 30-Day Free Trial For Select New Users In India: Here's How To AvailThe EU's action against Meta follows similar measures against TikTok in February, when regulators demanded comparable changes to its app.Wider probe into social media risksThe Commission is separately investigating so-called rabbit hole effects linked to Facebook and Instagram recommendation systems, where users may be drawn into prolonged viewing through algorithms that push similar content.In another case announced in April, the Commission told Meta to do more to prevent children under 13 from accessing its social networks or face possible fines.The Commission is expected to receive findings from experts on Monday that could help pave the way for a Europe-wide social media ban for teenagers. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to announce the proposal in her September state of the union address.

The European Commission says Facebook's and Instagram's addictive designs violate the Digital Services Act.

The European Commission said its investigation into Facebook and Instagram found Meta failed to properly assess the risks of its “addictive design.”

The European Commission has charged Meta Platforms with breaching EU digital law. Instagram and Facebook features are accused of keeping users hooked and addicted. Regulators demand changes or face significant fines for the company. Meta rejects the allegations, citing improved teen protections and parental controls. The company will continue engaging constructively with European Union regulators.

Brussels has decided that infinite scroll is not a feature but a hazard. On Friday, the European Commission told Meta to dismantle the design tricks that keep people glued to Facebook and Instagram, or risk a fine that could run into billions, in a fresh set of charges under the EU’s Digital Services Act. The […] This story continues at The Next Web

Brussels accused the US tech giant of failing to limit the risks the platforms posed to users, especially children and vulnerable adults, because of features designed to keep them on Facebook and Instagram.

Meta has faced similar scrutiny across the Atlantic including a U.S. trial this year which ruled Meta's and YouTube's platforms were harmfully addictive.

The European Union has in recent months stepped up its efforts to force Big Tech to better protect users online, especially children. The post EU tells Meta to change Facebook, Instagram’s ‘addictive design’ appeared first on Vanguard News.

Meta is in breach of the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), a preliminary investigation has found, over the "addictive" design of Instagram and Facebook. It's likely to be forced to redesign both apps, and could face a fine of up to $12 billion. The European Commission said Meta "did not adequately assess the risks of […]

The European Commission announced on Friday that it has reached a preliminary finding that Meta is in breach of the Digital Services Act due to the addictive design of its Facebook and Instagram platforms. This investigation primarily targeted specific interface elements including infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and the sophisticated, highly personalised recommender systems employed […]

Meta is an apparent breach of EU laws due to addictive design features on Instagram and Facebook, according to preliminary findings on Friday.

EU accuses Meta of failing to tackle mental health risks of ‘addictive design’  The GuardianMeta Told to Make Changes to Instagram and Facebook in Europe  The New York TimesEU threatens Meta with fines over 'addictive' Facebook and Instagram  BBCMeta found to breach EU laws with 'addictive' Instagram, Facebook designs  CNBCEU Escalates Meta Probe Over Addictive Design That Hooks Children  Bloomberg.com

Meta, the parent company of the popular social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, must change the design features that make their use addictive, the European Union said on Friday, threatening to slap the US tech giant with steep fines if it does not abide.

The European Commission has taken aim at infinite scroll and autoplay on Instagram and Facebook, finding that Meta failed to adequately mitigate the risks its platforms pose to users' mental health, including children.

Regulators say Facebook and Instagram features such as autoplay and infinite scroll contribute to ‘compulsive use’EU regulators have accused Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, of failing to tackle the risks of its “addictive design” on the physical and mental health of users.In an official charge sheet against Meta released on Friday, the European Commission said features such as video autoplay and infinite scroll, which provides an endless stream of content, “shift the brain into autopilot mode, contributing to unhealthy habits and compulsive use”. Continue reading...