EU threatens Meta with fines over addictive features on Facebook and Instagram
The European Commission has warned Meta that its addictive design features on Facebook and Instagram, such as infinite scroll and autoplay, violate the Digital Services Act. Meta faces potential fines of up to 6% of its global annual turnover if it fails to address these concerns regarding user wellbeing.
Why it matters
This represents a significant regulatory push by the EU to force major tech platforms to prioritize user mental health over engagement-driven algorithms.
The EU announced on Friday that Meta must overhaul Facebook’s and Instagram’s addictive design features or face a fine. The tech giant is in breach of the Digital Services Act by focusing on features like infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and highly personalized recommendation algorithms, the European Commission said.
The article reports on official regulatory actions and findings without taking a stance on the validity of the claims.
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