Meta is facing the prospect of a substantial regulatory penalty in Europe after the European Commission concluded in a preliminary assessment that Facebook and Instagram contain design features that encourage excessive and potentially harmful use of the platforms.
The Commission said on Friday that the technology giant may have breached provisions of the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) by failing to adequately evaluate and mitigate risks linked to platform features that could negatively affect users, particularly children and vulnerable individuals.
At the centre of the investigation are design elements such as infinite scrolling, autoplay videos, push notifications and personalised content recommendations, which regulators say are capable of keeping users engaged for prolonged periods and fostering compulsive online behaviour.
According to the Commission, these features can encourage users to remain on the platforms longer than intended by continuously serving content and reducing opportunities to disengage.
The EU regulator also criticised Meta for allegedly failing to make sufficient use of available data regarding how teenagers interact with its platforms, including the amount of time they spend online at night and the influence of content formats such as reels and stories on user behaviour.
The Commission said Meta had not taken adequate steps to reduce the risks associated with these features and suggested that stronger safeguards may be necessary.
Among the measures highlighted by regulators are making autoplay and infinite-scroll functions optional rather than automatic and introducing mechanisms that encourage users to take regular breaks from screen time.
If the preliminary findings are upheld following the completion of the investigation, Meta could face fines of up to six per cent of its global annual turnover under the EU’s digital regulations.
Reacting to the development, Meta disputed the Commission’s conclusions, insisting that regulators had failed to fully acknowledge measures already implemented to improve safety for younger users.
“We disagree with these preliminary findings, which don’t accurately take into account the significant steps we’ve taken to protect teens,” a Meta spokesperson said.
The company pointed to its Teen Accounts initiative, introduced as part of broader efforts to strengthen protections for younger users.
According to Meta, the feature provides additional parental controls, limits late-night access and enables families to place restrictions on the amount of time teenagers spend on the platforms each day.
“We share the European Commission’s commitment to providing teens with safe, positive online experiences and will continue to engage constructively with them,” the company added.
The latest case adds to growing regulatory pressure on Meta in Europe and elsewhere over concerns about user safety, digital well-being and the impact of social media on young people.
It is also the second time this year that the European Commission has issued adverse findings against the company. In April, regulators concluded that Meta had not done enough to prevent children under 13 from accessing Facebook and Instagram, potentially violating EU digital rules.
Beyond Europe, the company has also faced legal challenges in the United States related to the design of its platforms.
Earlier this year, two separate court rulings intensified scrutiny of the social media giant. One found that aspects of Facebook and Instagram’s design contributed to addictive behaviours and mental health concerns among young users, while another ruled that the company had misled users regarding child safety protections.
Meta rejected those conclusions, maintaining that its platforms are intended only for users aged 13 and above and that it employs systems designed to identify and remove accounts belonging to younger children.
The Commission’s findings are not yet final, and Meta will be given the opportunity to present its defence before a formal decision is made.
However, the case underscores the EU’s increasingly aggressive approach to regulating major technology companies and enforcing rules aimed at protecting users from harmful online practices.
Should the findings be confirmed, the case could become one of the most significant enforcement actions yet under the Digital Services Act, a landmark law designed to hold digital platforms more accountable for the way they operate and manage risks to users.
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