Economy · 14 days ago
EU orders Meta to modify addictive features
The European Commission has formally notified Meta that certain design elements on Facebook and Instagram, such as infinite scrolling and specific notification types, violate the Digital Services Act. Regulators argue these features exploit user vulnerability and drive addictive behaviors among minors. Meta must now dismantle these components or face significant financial penalties under the bloc's digital oversight framework.
First reported by aljazeera.com · developing for 17 days · 18 sourcesaawsat.comEU Chief Calls for 'Age-appropriate' Social Media Restrictionsaljazeera.comEU says ‘addictive’ features on Instagram and Facebook breach its rulesaa.com.trEU says Meta's 'addictive' Facebook, Instagram design may breach Digital Services Actlatimes.comFacebook and Instagram told to dismantle addictive design featuresirishtimes.comEU warns Meta over Facebook and Instagram's addictive feeds – The Irish Timesforbes.comInstagram And Facebook Must Remove 'Addictive' Features Like Infinite Scrolling —Or Face Heavy Fines, EU Tells Metathehindu.comEU demands Facebook, Instagram dismantle design features it calls addictive for userscnbc.comMeta breached laws with 'addictive' Instagram, Facebook designs, EU saysfrance24.comFacebook and Instagram must stop ‘addictive’ features causing infinite scrolling, EU tells Metatheguardian.comEU accuses Meta of failing to tackle mental health risks of ‘addictive design’+8 more outlets
Why it matters
This represents a major test of the EU's power to force global tech giants to fundamentally alter their product design to protect user health.
Context
The Digital Services Act allows the EU to fine tech companies up to 6% of their total global annual turnover for non-compliance.