The European Union has issued a preliminary report concluding that Meta's Instagram and Facebook designs, featuring elements like infinite scroll and autoplay, breach the Digital Services Act. The EU states these 'addictive' designs pose risks to users' physical well-being, parti

The European Union has concluded in a preliminary report that Meta's Instagram and Facebook designs breach the bloc's digital laws. Issued on Friday, the report states that the tech giant failed to adequately consider risks associated with design features affecting the physical well-being of users, including minors and vulnerable adults. The European Commission accused Meta of violating the Digital Services Act and warned of a potential fine if the findings are confirmed.

EU's Concerns Over Design Features

The European Commission identified several design features contributing to the breach, including infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and highly personalized recommendation systems. These features are said to feed users' compulsion to continue using platforms, putting them into "autopilot mode" and encouraging "compulsive use." The EU is particularly concerned about the impact on younger users, stating that protecting the physical and mental health of Europeans must be a priority for social media platforms.

Allegations of Inadequate Risk Mitigation

The Commission accused Meta of ignoring available information regarding the time young people spend on Instagram or Facebook at night, and how content formats like Reels and Stories could lead to excessive use. It stated that Meta has not done enough to mitigate these risks and needs to change its design features, suggesting disabling "autoplay" and "infinite scroll" by default and enforcing "screen time breaks." The Commission also criticized Meta's time-management tools and parental controls, arguing they can be dismissed and are only effective if parents have sufficient time and technical expertise.

Meta's Response and Past Scrutiny

Meta stated it disagrees with the preliminary findings, asserting they do not accurately account for the significant steps taken to protect teens. The company mentioned it has rolled out Teen Accounts that automatically protect teens and allow parents to block access at night and cap daily screen time at 15 minutes. This is the second time this year the EU Commission has found Meta in breach of its rules; in April, it stated the company failed to prevent under-13s from accessing its platforms. Meta has also faced scrutiny in the U.S., including two high-profile court rulings in March that found its design contributed to addiction and mental health harms in young people, and that it misled users about children's safety.