European Union demands Meta change Facebook and Instagram's 'addictive design'

Logo of Meta, the company that owns Instagram and Facebook.
Tony Avelar/AP
Meta will have to modify what the European Union classifies as an "addictive design" on Facebook and Instagram or it could face high fines, the bloc warned this Friday (10).
According to the European Commission, Meta has not adopted sufficient measures to reduce the risks that Facebook and Instagram pose to users, especially children and vulnerable people. In the body's assessment, the platforms use mechanisms that encourage the continued use of social networks.
If the preliminary conclusions are confirmed, the EU could impose a fine equivalent to up to 6% of the company's global annual revenue.
"Protecting the physical and mental health of Europeans must be a priority for social media platforms", said, in a statement, Henna Virkkunen, vice-president of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty.
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In recent months, the The EU has intensified pressure on large technology companies to strengthen protection for users, especially children.
In a preliminary opinion released this Friday, the European Commission stated that it had identified evidence that Meta violated European rules and said that the company will need to promote changes in the design of Instagram and Facebook.
According to the Commission, the changes could include the end of features considered addictive, such as automatic content reproduction and infinite scrolling. The body also wants more effective mechanisms to limit usage time and adjustments to recommendation systems to reduce the incentive for continuous consumption of content.
Meta said it disagreed with the preliminary conclusions, but said it would continue "collaborating constructively" with the European Union.
A senior EU official told France-Presse (AFP) that the European Commission's objective is not to punish companies.
"We want to promote change and, if we achieve this through commitments made by companies, we will be very satisfied", said.
EU questions protection mechanisms
The conclusions were released a few days before a panel of experts commissioned by the European Commission presented, on Monday (13), recommendations to expand the protection of children against inappropriate content on the internet.
In February, the EU issued a similar warning to TikTok, informing the platform that it should change its design or risk receiving large fines.
Still, the authority highlighted that there is a "small difference" in relation to the TikTok, arguing that "Meta has always sought to address the protection of minors on the internet."
In its opinion, the European Commission noted that Facebook and Instagram's time tracking tools can be easily deactivated by users themselves. Furthermore, parental controls would only be effective if those responsible had certain technical knowledge.
The EU began its investigation into the Target in 2024 based on the Digital Services Act (DSA).
The legislation is one of the main tools adopted by the European Union to hold large technology companies responsible for content and risks on their platforms and expand the protection of online users.

Source: G1