The European Commission accuses Meta of violating digital services legislation through the design of the Facebook and Instagram platforms, which encourages compulsive use.

On Friday, the European Commission announced that Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, violates the provisions of the Digital Services Act (DSA) due to the way the platforms are designed to encourage compulsive use. The investigation targets features such as infinite scrolling, autoplay, push notifications, and personalized recommendations, which are considered harmful to users' health, especially minors.

According to the preliminary assessment, Meta has not adequately analyzed the risks associated with the design of its platforms and the impact on vulnerable users. The Commission believes that Meta's current measures to limit time spent online are insufficient, and parental control tools are only effective under specific conditions.

The Commission is calling for changes in the design of the platforms, including disabling features that promote excessive use. Meta now has the opportunity to respond to the allegations, and if the violation is confirmed, the company could be fined up to 6% of its global annual revenue. This investigation is part of an official procedure opened in May 2024.