The European Union has escalated its regulatory war on Big Tech, issuing preliminary findings that Meta's Facebook and Instagram are designed to be addictive — and ordering the company to dismantle key features or face fines of up to 6% of global annual revenue.

The European Commission's preliminary decision, announced July 10, targets three specific design patterns it says violate the Digital Services Act (DSA): infinite scrolling, autoplaying videos, and personalized algorithmic recommendations.

The Findings

The Commission said these features "shift the brain into autopilot mode, contributing to unhealthy habits," with particular concern about their impact on children and teenagers. Features like Reels and Stories came under specific criticism.

What Meta Must Do

The Commission ordered Meta to disable infinite scrolling and video autoplay by default, redesign recommendation systems to reduce compulsive use, strengthen risk assessments for minors, and improve parental control tools.

Meta's Response

A Meta spokesperson disagreed with the findings, pointing to Teen Accounts that "automatically protect teens and put parents in control."

Broader Context

The findings come as the EU faces pressure from member states including France, pushing for a social media ban for minors following Australia's under-16 restrictions.

Sources