The European Commission has raised concerns about Meta’s approach to the mental health implications stemming from the design of its social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram. The Commission accuses Meta of not sufficiently mitigating the risks associated with features that can lead to excessive and compulsive usage.
Key features under scrutiny include autoplay videos, infinite scrolling, reels, and stories, which the Commission believes contribute to keeping users, particularly children and teenagers, engaged for prolonged periods. This extended engagement is thought to foster unhealthy usage patterns, with regulators particularly worried about the impact on younger users, including their tendency to use these platforms late at night.
This issue is part of an ongoing investigation under the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which obliges online platforms to address risks related to user safety and harmful online behavior. EU officials are advocating for changes in Facebook’s and Instagram’s design, such as setting autoplay and infinite scrolling to off by default, incorporating screen break reminders, and adjusting recommendation algorithms to curb compulsive engagement.
Meta has countered the Commission’s preliminary findings, asserting that it has already implemented measures aimed at protecting young users. These measures include Teen Accounts, parental controls, screen-time limits, and restrictions on nighttime platform access.
Should the European Commission uphold its findings following the investigation, Meta could potentially face fines amounting to as much as 6% of its global annual revenue for breaching the Digital Services Act.