The European Commission has raised concerns against Meta, accusing the tech giant of not sufficiently addressing mental health risks linked to the designs of its platforms, Facebook and Instagram. The Commission claims that certain features on these platforms, such as autoplay videos, infinite scrolling, reels, and stories, are designed in a way that could lead to excessive and compulsive usage among users.
Regulators have pointed out that these features could potentially foster unhealthy usage patterns by keeping individuals engaged for prolonged periods. They are particularly worried about the impact on younger audiences, specifically children and teenagers, who might be affected by the platforms’ designs that encourage late-night usage.
This accusation is part of a broader investigation conducted under the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), a regulation that mandates online platforms to mitigate risks associated with user safety and harmful online behaviors. As part of their response to these concerns, EU officials are pushing for significant changes in the design of Facebook and Instagram. The proposed changes include setting autoplay and infinite scrolling to be off by default, implementing screen break reminders, and modifying recommendation algorithms to decrease compulsive engagement.
Meta has countered the Commission’s preliminary findings by highlighting the efforts it has already made to protect its younger users. The company points to features like Teen Accounts, parental controls, screen-time limits, and restrictions on nighttime access as measures it has implemented to safeguard younger audiences.
Should the European Commission finalize these findings after its investigation, Meta could be subjected to penalties reaching up to 6% of its global annual revenue for breaching the Digital Services Act. The outcome of this investigation could have significant implications for how online platforms are designed and regulated in the future.