The European Commission has preliminarily found Meta in breach of the Digital Services Act, citing the addictive design of Instagram and Facebook.
Friday's finding targets features including infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and highly personalized recommendation algorithms. Regulators say these tools push users into "autopilot mode" and encourage compulsive use.
The investigation, launched in May 2024, found Meta failed to assess the risks its platforms pose to users' physical and mental wellbeing, particularly for minors and vulnerable adults. The Commission said Meta's existing safeguards, such as time management tools and parental controls, were inadequate.
The Commission is now calling for structural design changes. These include disabling autoplay and infinite scroll by default, introducing effective screen-time breaks, and adjusting recommendation systems to be less engagement-driven.
The preliminary findings do not prejudge a final outcome. Meta can respond in writing before any decision is issued. If confirmed, the company faces a fine of up to 6% of its total worldwide annual turnover, which could exceed $12 billion based on its 2025 revenue.