EU Demands Meta Overhaul Facebook, Instagram Design

The European Union has accused Meta Platforms of breaching its social media law, demanding that the company overhaul the design of Facebook and Instagram by disabling key features that encourage addiction. The EU's executive arm issued the charges as part of its investigation under the bloc's stringent Digital Services Act (DSA).

The European Commission stated that Meta failed to adequately assess the risks posed by its design features to the physical and mental health of users, including minors. While Meta offers tools to manage platform use, the commission found them easily overridden or technically challenging for users and parents.

Meta is required to implement design changes, such as disabling addictive features like autoplay videos and infinite scrolling by default. The company now has the opportunity to respond to these preliminary findings before a final decision is made. Non-compliance could result in a fine of up to 6% of Meta's global annual revenue.

Meta has contested the commission's preliminary findings, highlighting measures already taken to protect teenagers, including "Teen Accounts" with default protections and parental controls. The EU, however, remains committed to enforcing its legislation and holding platforms accountable for addictive design practices.