The European Commission on Friday published preliminary conclusions that allege Meta Platforms Inc. has designed features on Facebook and Instagram that contribute to addictive behaviour and that the company has not adequately managed risks to children.
According to the commission, Meta makes extensive use of personalized recommendations, autoplay and infinite scroll across its platforms - elements the regulator says can promote compulsive engagement. The findings further indicate that time management tools aimed at teenagers can be dismissed easily, while parental controls are burdensome to implement effectively, requiring technical know-how, time and effort.
The preliminary report represents an escalation of an inquiry launched in May 2024 under the Digital Services Act. No final ruling has been issued, and Meta will be afforded the opportunity to reply to the commission's findings.
The commission also asserts that Meta disregarded data on children's online habits, highlighting evidence of excessive night-time use of Instagram or Facebook. The regulator points to various content formats within the user interfaces - such as reels and stories - as potential drivers of compulsive use.
Pressure on social media companies to protect young users is intensifying around the globe, driven by concerns from parents and lawmakers about online bullying and exposure to adult content. The commission's preliminary conclusions note that the UK and other jurisdictions are pursuing limits on children's access to social media platforms, following restrictions introduced in Australia last year.
In the United States, Meta and other platforms face more than 1,300 lawsuits brought by school districts that argue products like Instagram and YouTube have harmed school environments. Thousands of additional claims have been lodged by individual students, parents and young adults alleging harm caused by these services.
Earlier this year a jury in Los Angeles found Instagram and YouTube liable for damaging a 20-year-old woman's mental health, ordering the companies to pay the woman a total of $6 million. The commission's current investigation could carry significant penalties: if the preliminary findings are upheld, the EU could impose a fine of up to 6% of Meta's global annual revenue.
The European Commission has also pursued a separate inquiry, announced in April, concerning Meta's measures to prevent very young children from accessing its platforms. That probe is distinct from the current preliminary findings and remains active.
At this stage the commission's conclusions are preliminary and procedural - Meta will have the chance to respond and present counterarguments before any final decision is reached.