The European Commission has accused Meta of failing to address the mental health risks posed by the “addictive design” of Facebook and Instagram, escalating its enforcement drive under the Digital Services Act. Regulators said features such as autoplay and infinite scroll encourage compulsive use.
In its charge sheet, the Commission said the platforms can push users into “autopilot mode” and that Meta had ignored available information about children’s nighttime use of Instagram and Facebook. It also said reels and stories could drive excessive or compulsive use among minors.
The case is part of a broader investigation opened in May 2024, which also includes concerns over so-called rabbit hole effects and whether Meta has done enough to keep children under 13 off its platforms. EU officials have said they want the company to make autoplay and infinite scroll non-default, add screen breaks, and adjust its recommendation systems.
Meta rejected the preliminary findings, saying it had already introduced Teen Accounts with stronger parental controls, including night-time access limits and daily screen-time caps.
If the Commission’s findings are upheld, the company could face fines of up to 6% of its annual global turnover.
The charges come days before an expert panel appointed by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is due to publish recommendations on children’s social media use. Several member states are already preparing their own bans, increasing pressure for an EU-wide response.
