Meta is facing one of its biggest regulatory challenges yet after the European Union accused the company of designing Facebook and Instagram in ways that encourage addictive behavior. 

 

European regulators say several core features of the platforms may violate the Digital Services Act (DSA) because they encourage users—particularly teenagers—to spend excessive amounts of time scrolling through content.

 

The European Commission's preliminary findings focus on features such as infinite scrolling, autoplay videos, personalized recommendation algorithms, Stories, and Reels. 

 

According to regulators, these tools are intentionally designed to keep users engaged for longer periods, potentially affecting mental health and increasing the risk of compulsive social media use.

 

Officials also criticized Meta's existing safety measures, arguing that parental controls, screen-time reminders, and other protective tools are too difficult to use and do not adequately protect younger users.

 

The Commission believes Meta has not done enough to reduce the risks posed to children and teenagers using its platforms.

 

As part of its demands, the European Union wants Meta to redesign several core features of Facebook and Instagram. Regulators have suggested disabling autoplay and infinite scrolling by default, improving screen-time break reminders, simplifying parental controls, and reducing reliance on engagement-driven recommendation algorithms that continuously encourage users to keep scrolling.

 

If Meta fails to address the Commission's concerns, the company could face fines of up to 6% of its global annual revenue under the Digital Services Act. 

 

Considering Meta generates hundreds of billions of dollars in annual revenue, analysts estimate that any eventual penalty could amount to several billion dollars, making it one of the largest technology fines ever imposed in Europe.

 

Meta has rejected the preliminary findings, saying it has already introduced important protections for younger users through its Teen Accounts initiative. 

 

The company argues that it has invested heavily in safety tools, age protections, parental supervision features, and time-management controls designed to create a safer online experience for adolescents.

 

This investigation is part of a wider effort by the European Union to hold major technology companies accountable under the Digital Services Act. 

 

Over the past two years, regulators have launched investigations into several of the world's largest digital platforms, including TikTok, X, Temu, and AliExpress, over issues ranging from child safety to algorithm transparency and harmful content.

 

The case could have consequences far beyond Europe. If Meta is required to redesign Facebook and Instagram for EU users, similar changes could eventually appear in other regions as governments increase pressure on social media companies to reduce addictive platform designs and better protect young people online.

 

For now, the Commission's findings are preliminary, and Meta will have the opportunity to respond before a final decision is made. However, the message from European regulators is clear: technology companies may no longer be allowed to prioritize user engagement over user wellbeing. 

 

If the allegations are upheld, Facebook and Instagram could undergo some of their biggest design changes in years, setting a new standard for how social media platforms operate worldwide.