European Union regulators have formally accused Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, of failing to mitigate the physical and mental health risks associated with its “addictive design.” In an official charge sheet released on Friday, the European Commission highlighted that specific platform features—namely video autoplay and the infinite scroll function—effectively shift the user’s brain into “autopilot mode.” According to regulators, this mechanism fosters unhealthy habits and compulsive usage of the services.
This development arrives as the EU actively debates potential social media bans for minors. The commission’s findings suggest that Meta has disregarded available data regarding the amount of time children spend on its platforms at night, as well as evidence indicating that features like reels and stories facilitate excessive or compulsive engagement. These accusations are part of a broader investigation into Meta initiated in May 2024. Regulators are also scrutinizing “rabbit hole” effects, where algorithms expose young users to negative content, such as unrealistic body imagery. Furthermore, the commission alleges that Meta has violated both EU law and its own terms by failing to prevent children under the age of 13 from accessing its platforms.
In response to these findings, EU officials are pushing for structural changes to Facebook and Instagram. Proposed remedies include disabling autoplay and infinite scroll as default settings, implementing mandatory screen breaks, and adjusting algorithms to reduce the delivery of personalized content. Meta now retains the right to mount a defense and review the commission’s investigation files. Should the findings be confirmed, the company faces potential fines of up to 6% of its total annual turnover.
Meta has previously maintained that it has spent over a decade developing more than 50 tools and policies intended to protect young users, emphasizing its desire to provide safe, age-appropriate experiences. The company has been contacted for further comment regarding these recent charges.
The regulatory action coincides with the imminent release of a report from an expert panel convened by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, which is examining the feasibility of social media bans for children. Von der Leyen, a mother of seven and trained doctor, has previously expressed support for considering a “social media delay,” noting that the core issue is whether social media platforms should have access to young people. With at least 10 EU member states, including France, Italy, and Spain, currently developing their own national plans for such bans, pressure is mounting on the commission to establish a unified, bloc-wide solution.
