The European Union has warned Meta that it must change several design features on Facebook and Instagram or risk a major financial penalty. According to the European Commission, Meta may be violating the Digital Services Act (DSA) by using features that encourage people to spend excessive time on its platforms.
The Commission highlighted features such as infinite scroll, autoplay videos, push notifications, Reels, Stories, and personalized recommendation algorithms. Regulators believe these tools keep users scrolling for longer periods and may contribute to unhealthy online habits, especially among teenagers and other vulnerable users.
EU officials said Meta failed to properly assess the risks these features pose to users’ physical and mental well-being. The Commission also claimed the company ignored evidence showing that many minors spend long hours on Facebook and Instagram, particularly during the night.
Existing time management tools, including those enabled by default for teens, were found to be easy to dismiss and ineffective at reducing screen time.
As a result, the European Commission has asked Meta to disable features such as autoplay and infinite scroll by default. It also wants the company to introduce stronger screen-time reminders and make its recommendation algorithms less focused on maximizing user engagement.
The investigation is still ongoing, and Meta will have the opportunity to review the findings and submit a formal response before any final decision is made. If the Commission confirms its conclusions, Meta Platforms could face fines of up to 6% of its global annual revenue.
This is the second major action taken by the EU against Meta this year. The company is also facing legal challenges in the United States over claims that Facebook and Instagram were designed to encourage addictive behavior among young users. The latest case adds to growing global pressure on social media companies to improve online safety and protect children.
