The European Commission on July 10 issued a preliminary order directing Meta Platforms to modify specific design elements on Facebook and Instagram, citing concerns about addictive user experiences. The order targets features the commission says combine to encourage compulsive engagement, particularly among minors and vulnerable adults.
What design features is the Commission targeting?
Regulators identified three core features as problematic: highly personalized recommendations, autoplay, and infinite scroll. In a press release, the commission stated that these elements fuel the urge to keep scrolling and shift the brain into an autopilot mode, contributing to unhealthy habits and compulsive use.
The preliminary order asks Meta to:
- Remove infinite scroll and autoplay
- Introduce mandatory screen time breaks
- Adjust recommendation algorithms to be less engagement oriented
- Reassess the impact of push notifications and personalized content systems
Investigators also found that Meta disregarded available data about how much time minors spend on Instagram or Facebook at night and how the optimization of formats such as reels and stories could lead to excessive or compulsive use.
What is the legal basis and what are the potential penalties?
The action falls under the Digital Services Act, a regulatory framework that took effect in August 2023. The DSA requires large online platforms to conduct risk assessments and mitigate systemic harms to physical and mental well-being.
If Meta does not comply, the company could face fines of up to 6 percent of annual revenue, which works out to roughly $12 billion based on fiscal 2025 figures. The order is preliminary and subject to further proceedings, during which Meta can present its case before a final decision.
How has Meta responded?
Meta has rejected the findings. A company spokesperson said Meta disagrees with these preliminary findings, which don’t accurately take into account the significant steps we have taken to protect teens. The company pointed to its Teen Accounts feature, which allows parents to block access to Facebook and Instagram at night, along with existing parental controls and time management tools.
The commission countered that these measures were insufficient because the underlying design of the platforms continues to encourage compulsive use.
How does this fit the broader regulatory context?
The EU has pursued similar actions against other platforms. The bloc imposed a $140 million fine on X under the DSA and accused TikTok of comparable addictive design violations. These cases suggest a coordinated effort to reshape how social media platforms operate within the European Union.
Crucially, the case is part of a widening regulatory clash between Brussels and Washington. The Trump administration has mobilized U.S. diplomats to lobby against the DSA, arguing it threatens free speech and unfairly targets American companies. Senior State Department officials have publicly described the law as Orwellian censorship.
Critics of the DSA echo that concern, arguing its broad mandates empower a centralized bureaucracy to dictate platform design and potentially stifle innovation and free expression.
What parallel legal pressure is Meta facing in the United States?
Meta is simultaneously facing more than 2,400 U.S. lawsuits related to addictive features. Earlier this year, the company lost a product liability trial in Los Angeles and was hit with a $375 million judgment in New Mexico for knowingly harming children’s mental health and enabling child sexual exploitation.
What happens next?
The preliminary findings remain subject to further proceedings. If the order is upheld, Meta will be required to implement the changes within a set timeframe or face the maximum fine. The final decision will likely carry implications not only for Meta but for how the EU uses the DSA to regulate platform design across the bloc.
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