EU charges Meta over addictive design of Instagram, Facebook

The European Commission on Friday formally accused Meta Platforms ↗ 6.70% of breaching the bloc's Digital Services Act over what regulators called the "addictive design" of Instagram and Facebook, marking the latest enforcement action in Brussels' campaign to rein in the power of large technology platforms.

What the Commission Found

The investigation targeted features including infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and highly personalized recommender systems that the Commission said are designed to maximize engagement, particularly among young users. In its preliminary findings, the Commission said Meta failed to properly assess the risks posed by these addictive design elements and did not take adequate steps to mitigate potential harms to minors.europa+3

The Commission warned that if the findings are confirmed, Meta could face fines of up to 6 percent of its global annual revenue. Meta must now change the flagged features or risk those penalties, though any final decision on fines could take months.politico+2

Pattern of DSA Enforcement

Friday's charges represent the second set of DSA-related findings against Meta this year. In April, the Commission issued separate preliminary findings that Facebook and Instagram failed to prevent children under 13 from accessing their platforms, citing ineffective age verification controls. The Commission had also charged TikTok in February over similar addictive design concerns, including infinite scroll and autoplay.europarl.europa+2

The action comes as Meta faces mounting legal pressure on both sides of the Atlantic. In the United States, four states have sued the company over the addictive designs of Facebook and Instagram, seeking damages that could reach as high as $1.4 trillion. A U.S. jury in March 2026 also found Meta liable for addictive design on its platforms.instagram+1

Meta Pushes Back

Meta has disputed the charges, according to Reuters. The company has previously argued that it has introduced features such as screen-time reminders and parental controls to protect younger users. The Commission's findings remain preliminary, and Meta will have the opportunity to respond before any final determination is made.reuters+1

The enforcement push underscores the EU's willingness to use the DSA — which came fully into force for very large platforms in 2024 — as a tool to reshape how social media companies design their products, particularly when children are involved.