The European Commission has formally accused Meta of breaching the Digital Services Act (DSA), citing that the "addictive design" of Facebook and Instagram poses risks to users' physical and mental health. The preliminary findings of an investigation launched in May 2024 target features like infinite scroll, video autoplay, and personalized recommendation algorithms for fueling compulsive use, particularly among minors.
Regulators claim Meta failed to adequately assess and mitigate these risks and that its current tools, like time management features and parental controls, are ineffective. The Commission has called for design changes, such as disabling autoplay and infinite scroll by default. If the findings are confirmed, Meta could face fines of up to 6% of its global annual revenue. Meta has stated it disagrees with the findings, pointing to steps it has taken to protect teens.