EU says Instagram and Facebook’s addictive design may break digital services act

New Delhi: The European Commission has warned that Instagram and Facebook from Meta are potentially violating the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) regarding their hosts’ use of algorithm features that keep users engaged for too long on the social media platforms. The results so far are inconclusive, but it may open a world of difference in terms of what the two social media apps can achieve in Europe.

The Commission says that features like infinite scrolling, auto-play videos, and really targeted content feeds are meant to keep users on the website for extended opportunities. These features could pose a risk of addiction, regulators have warned, particularly for younger users and teens. They additionally claimed that Meta hasn’t done enough to lessen these dangers or give users and parents handy instruments to control screen time.

The investigation against Meta began in 2024 following the implementation of the Digital Services Act, a law tasked with keeping large online platforms safe from harmful risks that could be faced online. The Commission’s finding will be confirmed after the response from Meta, and in that case, the company will be fined up to 6% of its global annual revenue. It could also force Instagram and Facebook to restructure key features that are integral to the platforms, such as the ‘infinite scroll’, the default autoplay, or everything else.

Meta is not in agreement with the Commission’s view. To help younger Internet users have a safer experience, the company has already added some features such as Teen Accounts, parental controls, and screen time reminders, among others. Meta will fight back in the next phase of the investigation.

It is one of the largest challenges for the Digital Services Act in action, marking an increase in the European Union’s efforts to bring social media platforms to a safer space. The ruling may have implications beyond just Meta’s offerings in the European Union, and it will potentially shape how future applications function. The result is being closely tracked by the regulators around the world with growing concerns about social media dependency and its effects on mental health.