The European Commission has raised concerns about Meta’s handling of mental health risks linked to its platforms, Facebook and Instagram. The Commission claims that certain features inherent to these social media services, such as autoplay videos, infinite scrolling, and the inclusion of reels and stories, foster habits of excessive and compulsive use among users.
Regulators specifically highlighted the potential negative impact of these features on children and teenagers, noting that they could lead to prolonged engagement, including late-night usage. The Commission’s allegations are part of a broader investigation under the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which mandates that online platforms address user safety and mitigate harmful online practices.
In response to these concerns, EU officials are pressing Meta to make significant changes to its platform designs. Proposed measures include setting limits on autoplay and infinite scrolling by default, implementing reminders for screen breaks, and adjusting recommendation algorithms to curb compulsive engagement.
Meta has contested these preliminary findings, emphasizing that it has already implemented several protective measures. These include the introduction of Teen Accounts, enhanced parental controls, screen-time limits, and restrictions on nighttime access to safeguard younger users.
Should the European Commission uphold its findings following the investigation, Meta could be subject to substantial penalties, potentially amounting to 6% of its global annual revenue, for breaching the Digital Services Act.