EU Orders Meta to Change Addictive Features on Facebook and Instagram
The European Commission ordered Meta to modify features on Facebook and Instagram deemed excessively addictive, particularly for minors and vulnerable adults. The Commission stated the platforms failed to adequately assess and restrict risks of dependency from features like unlimited content feeds and personalized recommendations designed to maximize engagement.
What happened
The European Commission ordered Meta to change features on Facebook and Instagram, citing that the platforms contain excessively addictive characteristics. The Commission stated that Meta failed to properly assess and restrict the risk of users developing dependency, particularly minors and vulnerable adults, due to features designed to hold attention for extended periods.
The features in question include unlimited content feeds, highly personalized recommendations, and automatic video playback, which increase advertising revenue by encouraging continuous scrolling. The Commission also expressed dissatisfaction with parental controls on both platforms, finding them overly complex, and with settings for screen time consumption by teenagers.
Reported impact
The Commission stated that these features feed users' need to continue scrolling and place their brains in 'autopilot mode', contributing to behaviours harmful to health and compulsive use. The investigation began in May 2024 regarding Meta's protection of minors online.
Index analysis
Meta disputed the preliminary conclusions, stating that it has taken significant measures to protect teenagers, including accounts created two years ago that allow parents to block Instagram during nighttime and limit daytime screen time to as little as 15 minutes. Meta stated it shares the Commission's goal of offering a safe and positive internet environment.
Governance controls
Meta will have the opportunity to defend itself and propose measures to address the deficiencies attributed to it by the Commission. If the Commission finds violations, Meta faces substantial penalties.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.