The European Commission has raised concerns about Meta’s handling of mental health risks linked to the design elements of Facebook and Instagram. Regulators argue that certain features on these platforms, such as autoplay videos, infinite scrolling, and the reels and stories formats, may encourage users to spend excessive time online, fostering potentially compulsive use.
Criticism from the Commission highlights that these features could lead to unhealthy usage patterns, particularly among children and teenagers. These concerns include issues such as late-night usage, which could impact the well-being of younger users. This forms part of a wider investigation under the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which mandates online platforms to mitigate risks associated with user safety and harmful online behavior.
In response to these allegations, EU officials are advocating for changes to Facebook and Instagram’s design. Suggested modifications include setting limits on autoplay and infinite scrolling features by default, implementing reminders for screen breaks, and adjusting recommendation algorithms to lessen compulsive engagement.
Meta, however, has contested these preliminary findings. The company asserts that it has already taken steps to enhance the safety of younger users, such as the introduction of Teen Accounts, parental controls, screen-time limits, and restrictions on nighttime platform access.
Should the European Commission confirm its findings after concluding the investigation, Meta could face significant penalties, potentially up to 6% of its global annual revenue, for breaching the Digital Services Act.