Instagram and Facebook Under Accusation: According to the EU, They Create Dependency and Must Change
The European Commission has preliminarily identified a possible violation of the Digital Services Act (DSA) by Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, regarding the design of the two platforms and the potential effects of certain features on user behavior. The investigation focuses particularly on the so-called "addictive design", meaning elements of the interface and algorithms that could promote extended and difficult-to-interrupt use of the services.
According to Brussels, Meta has not conducted a sufficiently thorough assessment of the risks associated with these characteristics, especially concerning the physical and mental well-being of the most vulnerable users, including minors and young adults. Among the aspects analyzed are the highly personalized recommendation system, the automatic playback of content, and the infinite scrolling mechanism of the feeds.
The Commission claims these functions are designed to keep engagement levels high by continuously showing new content and encouraging users to continue browsing. According to the analysis conducted as part of the investigation, the combination of notifications, automatically suggested content, and formats like Reels and Stories could contribute to the formation of excessive usage habits, leading users to scroll almost automatically.
The preliminary document also highlights that Meta has not adequately considered certain data regarding the time minors spend on the platforms, including nighttime use of Facebook and Instagram. Optimizing different video formats and recommendation systems would, according to the Commission, be an element that can increase the risk of compulsive use.
Brussels has also expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the tools provided by Meta to limit the time spent on the platforms. Usage management functions, including those automatically activated for teenagers, would be easily disregarded and would not result in a significant reduction in time spent on the services.
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Even parental control systems are considered insufficient. According to the Commission, such tools are genuinely effective only when parents and guardians have adequate technical skills and dedicate time to configuring and monitoring the settings. Informational initiatives on mental health, such as links to dedicated resources within Meta's safety centers, would not be sufficient to mitigate the risks associated with application design.
In light of the preliminary conclusions, the European Commission deems direct intervention on the operation of Instagram and Facebook necessary. Proposed changes include the default deactivation of autoplay and infinite scrolling, the introduction of more effective breaks for controlling time spent online, and a review of recommendation systems to make them less focused solely on increasing engagement.
However, the investigation does not represent a final decision. Meta will now have the opportunity to review the investigation documents and submit its comments to the European Commission. Meanwhile, the European Board for Digital Services, the body responsible for supporting the implementation of the Digital Services Act, will also be involved.
If the preliminary assessments are confirmed, Brussels could issue a ruling of non-compliance with the DSA. European regulations foresee penalties of up to 6% of the annual global revenue of the affected platform. Considering that Meta recorded revenues of approximately $200.97 billion in 2025, the theoretical fine could reach an amount in the order of $12 billion.
Brussels is also conducting separate checks on the age verification measures adopted by Meta for users under 13 and on the effects of recommendation systems, including so-called "rabbit holes", which are content pathways that could expose users, especially younger ones, to a progressively personalized content experience.
"Protecting the physical and mental health of Europeans must be a priority for social platforms," stated Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy. According to Virkkunen, the Digital Services Act provides a clear regulatory framework to make platforms accountable for the design of their services and their effects on users.