EU Orders Meta to Modify ‘Addictive’ Facebook and Instagram Features

The European Union has warned tech giant Meta that it must alter features on Facebook and Instagram described by regulators as “addictive,” or face massive financial penalties under the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA).

In its preliminary findings released on Friday, the European Commission stated that Meta failed to protect users, especially children and vulnerable adults, from risks linked to high-engagement features. Regulators raised specific concerns over infinite scrolling, highly personalised content recommendations, and automatic video playback, arguing that these tools encourage compulsive usage.

Henna Virkkunen, the EU Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, emphasised that safeguarding citizens’ physical and mental health must be a top priority for social media corporations.

To comply with EU standards, the Commission recommended that Meta:

Turn off automatic video playback and infinite scrolling by default.

Install more effective screen-time reminders.

Redesign recommendation systems to move away from maximising user engagement.

Meta has rejected the findings, stating that it disagrees with the conclusions but will continue to work constructively with European regulators. The company highlighted that it has already launched safety features, such as “Teen Accounts,” which allow parents to limit screen time and block late-night access.

If the European Commission upholds these findings after the final review, Meta could be fined up to six percent of its total global annual revenue.