EU Tells Meta to Dismantle Facebook and Instagram’s ‘Addictive’ Design or Face a Fine
The European Commission has instructed Meta to overhaul the design of Facebook and Instagram, arguing that their features encourage addictive behavior. This call comes under the Digital Services Act, which holds large platforms accountable for systemic risks they may pose.
Background
Brussels has expressed concern over infinite scroll and autoplay functions, accusing Meta of prioritizing engagement over user well-being, especially for children and vulnerable adults. This latest development is a continuation of an ongoing investigation into addictive design practices initiated over a year ago.
The Commission’s Demands
The Commission specifically requested that Meta:
- Disable features like autoplay and infinite scroll by default.
- Implement effective screen time breaks.
- Adjust its recommendation systems to prioritize user engagement less heavily.
They criticized Meta for offering tools to manage app usage but making them easily ignorable or inconvenient, thereby maintaining a default setting that maximizes attention rather than user welfare.
Legal Framework
The Digital Services Act requires large platforms to identify and mitigate systemic risks. The Commission argues that addiction by design is such a risk, with "rabbit-hole" effects leading to excessive content consumption.
If the findings are upheld after Meta’s response, the company could face fines of up to 6% of its global annual turnover, potentially running into billions. However, the EU has rarely imposed penalties reaching this ceiling.
Meta’s Response
Meta disagreed with the Commission’s findings and pledged to "engage constructively" with them, a standard response from companies facing regulatory scrutiny.