'Contributes To Unhealthy Habits': EU Flags 'Addictive Design' Of Instagram, Facebook; Meta Responds

Tech conglomerate Meta, which has faced scrutiny over multiple issues in recent years, is facing another accusation from the European Union (EU).

EU regulators have alleged that Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, has failed to address the risks posed by its “addictive design” to users’ physical and mental health.

The European Commission released an official charge sheet against the company, headed by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, on Friday, stating that features such as video autoplay and infinite scroll, which provide an endless stream of content, “shift the brain into autopilot mode, contributing to unhealthy habits and compulsive use”.

EU Plans Social Media Ban For Minors

As the EU weighs imposing a social media ban on minors, the commission said

the US-based firm had ignored available evidence regarding the amount of time children spend on Facebook and Instagram at night and the role of features such as reels and stories in encouraging “excessive or even compulsive use of its services”.

According to the commission, the addictive design of Facebook and Instagram violates the EU’s Digital Services Act, a law intended to shield users from online harms ranging from shopping scams and disinformation to illegal content.

‘We Rolled Out Teen Accounts’: Meta Rejects Allegation

Meanwhile, Meta has rejected the allegations, citing the steps it has taken to protect teenagers. “We disagree with these preliminary findings, which don’t accurately take into account the significant steps we’ve taken to protect teens. Since this investigation began, we rolled out ‘Teen Accounts’ that automatically protect teens and put parents in control – allowing them to block access to Instagram at night and cap daily screen time at just 15 minutes,” a Meta spokesperson said.

The findings are part of a broader investigation into Meta launched by the EU in May 2024. Regulators are still examining other allegations, including “rabbit hole” effects, in which algorithms allegedly expose young users to harmful content such as unrealistic body images. In a separate aspect of the probe, the commission said Meta violated both EU rules and its own terms and conditions by failing to prevent children under 13 from accessing Facebook and Instagram.

Meta Could Face Fine

EU officials are pushing for changes to the platforms’ design, including ending autoplay and infinite scroll as default features, introducing screen breaks and modifying algorithms to reduce personalised content. Meta can contest the allegations and review the commission’s case files. If the findings are upheld, the company could face fines of up to 6% of its global annual revenue. The charges come ahead of a report on social media restrictions for children due on Monday.