The European Union ordered Meta to enact major design changes to its social media platforms, Instagram and Facebook, and to disable “addictive design” elements like infinite scroll and autoplay videos, or face large fines, in the bloc’s latest regulatory action against a U.S. tech platform under its Digital Services Act.
Key Takeaways
- The European Commission, the EU’s executive body, said its investigation found Meta did not adequately assess the risks of its “addictive design on the physical and mental wellbeing of users, including minors and vulnerable adults.”
- The Commission highlighted Facebook and Instagram features like autoplay videos, infinite scrolling timelines and “highly personalized recommendations.”
- The regulatory body accused Meta of using these features to “fuel the user’s urge to keep scrolling” and put their brain on “autopilot,” noting that this behavior was unhealthy.
- The Commission also alleged that the social media giant ignored available information about the amount of time minors spend on its apps at night, consuming “reels and stories.”
- Deeming Meta’s existing time management tools as ineffective, the EU body noted they can be “easily dismissed” and said the apps’ parental controls are only effective if parents have “adequate technical expertise.”
- Forbes has reached out to Meta for comment.
What Does the EU Want Meta To Do?
The commission said it wants Meta to implement key design changes, including disabling “autoplay” and “infinite scroll” by default, implementing “effective screen time breaks,” and altering its personalized recommendations algorithm to make it less “engagement-oriented.”
What To Watch For
Meta will have the right to challenge the investigation’s preliminary findings. The company told the New York Times it disagreed with the commission report, which it said didn’t “accurately take into account the significant steps we’ve taken to protect teens.”
What Sort Of Fines Could Meta Face?
If the commission’s preliminary findings are confirmed, it could issue a “non-compliance decision” which will allow the EU to slap Meta with a hefty fine of up to 6% of its global annual turnover under the Digital Services Act.
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