The European Commission has accused Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, of breaching the European Union’s technology rules by using platform features that regulators say are designed to keep users engaged for extended periods. The Commission has called on the company to modify features such as autoplay and infinite scrolling, warning that Meta could face substantial fines if it fails to comply.
The preliminary findings follow a two-year investigation conducted under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires major online platforms to take stronger measures to address illegal and harmful content while assessing and mitigating systemic risks associated with their services.
The scrutiny comes amid growing global concerns over the impact of social media on children’s mental health, prompting several governments to introduce or consider restrictions on minors’ use of social networking platforms.
According to the European Commission, Meta failed to adequately assess the addictive risks posed by its highly personalised recommendation systems, autoplay functions, and infinite scrolling features, which provide users with a continuous stream of content and encourage prolonged engagement.
The Commission also argued that short-form videos and Stories on Facebook and Instagram may contribute to excessive or compulsive use of the platforms.
Regulators criticised the measures Meta has introduced to reduce these risks, saying that existing time-management tools can be easily bypassed, while parental controls require significant time, effort, and technical knowledge to use effectively.
The Commission has urged Meta to disable features such as autoplay and infinite scrolling by default, introduce meaningful breaks to reduce screen time, and redesign its recommendation systems to place less emphasis on maximising user engagement.
Responding to the findings, Meta spokesperson Ben Walters said the company disagreed with the Commission’s preliminary conclusions, arguing that they failed to fully recognise the measures Meta has already implemented to protect teenagers.
“Since this investigation began, we have launched Teen Accounts, which provide automatic protections and give parents greater control, including the ability to block Instagram access during the night and set a daily usage limit of 15 minutes,” Walters said.
Meta added that it would continue to cooperate constructively with EU regulators throughout the investigation.
European Commission Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, said the Commission’s main concern was that the platforms’ design creates a high risk of addiction and must be changed. She added that Meta must either redesign its platforms to comply with the rules or face a formal non-compliance decision.
If found to have violated the Digital Services Act, Meta could face a fine of up to six per cent of its annual global revenue. The company has the opportunity to respond to the allegations before the European Commission issues its final decision in the coming months.
