The European Commission has issued a preliminary finding that Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has violated the Digital Services Act (DSA) through the use of addictive design features. The decision, announced on Friday, targets elements such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and highly personalised recommendation algorithms, which regulators argue push users into what they describe as "autopilot mode" and encourage compulsive use.
"Protecting the physical and mental health of Europeans must be a priority for social media platforms," said Henna Virkkunen, the Commission's Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, in a press release. "The Digital Services Act provides a clear framework to hold platforms accountable for the addictive design and effects of their services. We are fully committed to enforcing our legislation in Europe."
Investigation Details and Findings
The investigation, launched in May 2024, concluded that Meta failed to adequately assess the risks its platforms pose to the physical and mental wellbeing of users, particularly minors and vulnerable adults. Investigators found that the company disregarded data on how much time teenagers spend on Instagram and Facebook at night, and how the optimisation of formats such as Reels and Stories could lead to excessive or compulsive use.
Meta's existing safeguards were also deemed insufficient. The Commission noted that time management tools, including those activated by default for teenagers, can easily be ignored and do not meaningfully reduce usage. Parental controls, meanwhile, were found to be effective only for parents with sufficient technical expertise and time to navigate them—an assumption regulators said undermined their value.
The findings come amid growing concerns about the impact of social media on mental health, a topic that has drawn attention from researchers and policymakers across Europe. A recent study highlighted in Extreme Heat Linked to Rise in Youth Mental Health Hospital Visits, Study Finds underscores the broader environmental and social factors affecting young people's wellbeing.
Required Design Changes
The Commission has called on Meta to make structural design changes to both platforms. These include disabling features such as autoplay and infinite scroll by default, introducing effective screen-time breaks, and adjusting recommendation systems to make them less engagement-driven. The preliminary findings do not prejudge a final outcome; Meta now has the right to examine the Commission's investigation files and respond in writing before any non-compliance decision is issued.
If the findings are ultimately confirmed, Meta faces a fine capped at 6% of its total worldwide annual turnover—a figure that could exceed $12 billion (€11 billion) based on the company's 2025 revenue of just under $201 billion. This would be the largest penalty under the DSA to date, following fines of €120 million against Elon Musk's X in December and €200 million against Chinese e-commerce giant Temu in May.
The investigation runs alongside a separate probe into Meta's age assurance measures for under-13s, for which preliminary findings were adopted in April. The DSA continues to shape the regulatory landscape for digital platforms operating in the EU, with Brussels taking an increasingly assertive stance on user safety and corporate accountability.
