EU Orders Meta to Revamp Addictive Features on Social Media
WHO:
ABC News Tech - The European Union is involved in the case against Meta.
Techmeme - The EU Commission is the authority making the preliminary findings.
WHAT:
AP News - The European Commission issued a fresh set of charges against Meta Platforms as part of its investigation under the Digital Services Act.
AP News - The commission stated that Meta's controls for managing Facebook and Instagram use are "easily overridden" and "technically challenging to use."
AP News - The commission's proposed design changes also include finding better ways to encourage screen time breaks and changing the content recommendation system to be less "engagement-oriented."
AP News - The commission's 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.
AP News - The EU stated earlier this year that Meta had failed to prevent children under 13 from signing up for Facebook and Instagram.
AP News - Meta stated that it has rolled out Teen Accounts that automatically protect teens and allow parents to block access to Instagram at night and cap daily screen time at just 15 minutes.
AP News - The European Commission emphasized that the controls parents can impose on their teens’ devices can be “easily dismissed” and do not result in a meaningful reduction of use.
AP News - The commission's proposed design changes include finding better ways to encourage screen time breaks and changing the content recommendation system to be less "engagement-oriented."
AP News - The European Commission stated that 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.
AP News - The commission's preliminary findings indicate that Meta 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.
AP News - Henna Virkkunen, an executive vice-president at the commission overseeing tech, emphasized that protecting the physical and mental health of Europeans must be a priority for social media platforms.
AP News - The European Commission stated that Meta failed to properly assess the risks its design features pose to the physical and mental health of users, including minors.
AP News - The commission's proposed design changes include finding better ways to encourage screen time breaks and changing the content recommendation system to be less "engagement-oriented."
AP News - The commission's preliminary findings are part of an ongoing investigation that began in 2024 over concerns about Meta's protection of children online.
AP News - The EU previously stated that Meta had failed to prevent children under 13 from signing up for Facebook and Instagram and was not doing enough to identify and remove underage users after they had opened accounts.
TechCrunch - The European Commission identified specific features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and highly personalized recommendation algorithms as part of Meta's breach of the Digital Services Act.
Techmeme - The EU Commission has warned Meta that failure to comply with the demands to change Facebook and Instagram's design could result in a fine of up to 6% of the company's global revenue.
Engadget - The European Commission stated that the addictive designs of Facebook and Instagram are illegal under the Digital Services Act.
ABC News Tech - The EU is accusing Meta of breaching social media laws.
Techmeme - The EU Commission stated that Facebook and Instagram's addictive design violates the Digital Services Act (DSA).
Techmeme - Meta has been told to make changes to avoid a hefty fine.
WHERE:
ABC News Tech - The case involves social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, which are operated by Meta.
WHY:
AP News - The European Commission stated that 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.
ABC News Tech - The EU claims that the design features of Facebook and Instagram are intended to be addictive.
HOW:
Techmeme - The EU Commission's findings are based on the assessment that Meta's design practices violate digital safety laws.
(UPDATED July 11, 2026 01:22 UTC)
The European Commission has issued a new set of charges against Meta Platforms as part of its ongoing investigation under the Digital Services Act. The commission criticized Meta's controls for managing Facebook and Instagram, describing them as "easily overridden" and "technically challenging to use," while also proposing design changes to encourage screen time breaks and adjust the content recommendation system to be less "engagement-oriented." These preliminary findings come after the EU previously stated that Meta failed to prevent children under 13 from signing up for its platforms, highlighting ongoing concerns about the protection of young users online.
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(UPDATED July 10, 2026 19:22 UTC)
Meta has introduced Teen Accounts that automatically protect teenagers by allowing parents to block access to Instagram at night and limit daily screen time to just 15 minutes. However, the European Commission has raised concerns that the controls parents can impose may be easily dismissed and do not significantly reduce usage. To address these issues, the commission is proposing design changes aimed at encouraging screen time breaks and modifying the content recommendation system to be less focused on engagement.
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(UPDATED July 10, 2026 17:32 UTC)
The European Commission has announced that Meta must make significant design changes to Instagram and Facebook, including disabling addictive features like autoplay videos and infinite scroll by default. The commission's preliminary findings give Meta the opportunity to respond before a final decision is made, which could lead to a fine of up to 6% of the company's global annual revenue. Henna Virkkunen, an executive vice-president at the commission, stressed that prioritizing the physical and mental health of Europeans is essential for social media platforms.
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(UPDATED July 10, 2026 16:43 UTC)
The European Commission has announced that Meta did not adequately assess the risks its design features pose to the physical and mental health of users, particularly minors. As part of an ongoing investigation that started in 2024, the commission is proposing design changes aimed at encouraging screen time breaks and adjusting the content recommendation system to be less focused on user engagement. Additionally, the EU has previously highlighted Meta's failure to prevent children under 13 from signing up for Facebook and Instagram and criticized the company for not doing enough to identify and remove underage users from the platforms.
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(UPDATED July 10, 2026 15:46 UTC)
The European Commission has identified several features that violate the Digital Services Act, including infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and highly personalized recommendation algorithms, in relation to Meta. This finding highlights significant concerns about user engagement practices employed by the tech giant. As a result, Meta may face regulatory actions aimed at addressing these breaches.
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(UPDATED July 10, 2026 14:51 UTC)
The European Commission has issued a warning to Meta, stating that if the company does not comply with demands to change the design of Facebook and Instagram, it could face a fine of up to six percent of its global revenue. This ultimatum highlights ongoing regulatory pressures on major tech companies in the region. Meta now has to navigate these requirements to avoid significant financial penalties.
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(UPDATED July 10, 2026 12:47 UTC)
The European Commission has declared that the addictive designs of Facebook and Instagram violate the Digital Services Act. This ruling highlights the ongoing scrutiny of social media platforms and their impact on users. As a result, these companies may face significant changes in how they operate in the European market moving forward.
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(UPDATED July 10, 2026 11:57 UTC)
The European Union is taking action against Meta, accusing the company of breaching social media laws with its platforms Facebook and Instagram. The EU Commission has determined that the addictive design of these platforms violates the Digital Services Act and has instructed Meta to implement changes to avoid significant fines. These preliminary findings highlight concerns that Meta's design features are intentionally crafted to be addictive, raising serious questions about digital safety.