The European Union stated on Wednesday that Meta is failing to prevent children under 13 from using Facebook and Instagram, potentially exposing them to inappropriate content and putting the tech giant at risk of a massive fine.
The EU has stepped up efforts to ‘protect children’ online in recent months, with several member states currently considering social media bans for those under 16. This follows intense pressure to take broader action after Australia’s groundbreaking ban on platform use for minors.
While Meta’s own terms and conditions set the minimum age for its platforms at 13, the EU’s preliminary investigation found that the company’s measures to enforce this age limit were ineffective.
If the regulator’s findings are confirmed, the EU could impose a fine of up to 6% of the company’s total annual worldwide turnover.
