Critical Warning from EU to Meta: Addictive Features on Instagram and Facebook Could Be Removed

The European Commission concluded that certain core design features used by Meta on its Facebook and Instagram platforms violate regional laws. According to the official preliminary assessment report published by the Commission, functions such as autoplay and infinite scrolling hook users' brains into a kind of 'autopilot,' creating unhealthy habits. This situation is said to cause compulsive behavior, particularly among young users. Authorities argue that Meta's conscious decision to continue using these designs directly undermines the Digital Services Act (DSA), which aims to protect users from online fraud and illegal content. This step by the EU is considered a harbinger of a new regulatory era in Europe against the psychological methods used by big tech companies to increase user engagement.

One of the most striking issues during the investigation process was the social media usage habits of children and teenagers at night. The EU Commission claims that Meta intentionally ignored critical data regarding how much time minors spend on the platforms overnight. It is emphasized that features like Stories and Reels encourage excessive and even addictive usage, marketed to children. The Commission is also deeply examining the 'rabbit hole' effect of platform algorithms, which drags young users toward harmful content. Officials also added to the charges Meta's failure to prevent children under the age of 13 from accessing the platforms, which violates both their own terms of service and EU law.

The European Union is demanding concrete and radical steps from Meta to change the current configuration. In this context, it is stated that the autoplay feature, which traps users in a passive cycle of consumption, should be turned off by default. Furthermore, the complete removal of the infinite scrolling feature, which offers a continuous and out-of-control scrolling experience, is requested. EU officials mandate the integration of regular screen breaks into the system to allow users to take a breath in the digital environment. Finally, it is demanded that aggressive personalization algorithms, which constantly expose users to the same content, be made less addictive. Failure to meet these demands could severely restrict the company's operations in the European market.

Meta's initial response to the serious claims subject to the investigation was highly defensive. The company spokesperson stated that they firmly reject and do not accept the findings in the European Commission's preliminary assessment. Meta officials argue that the significant steps they have been working on for a long time to protect youth were not adequately evaluated in this report. The company specifically points to the 'Teen Accounts' system they implemented during the investigation process to prove its measures. It is stated that thanks to this system, parents can completely block their children's access to Instagram at night and limit daily screen time to 15 minutes.

This latest development indicates that the trend of completely banning children's access to social media across Europe is gaining momentum. The expert panel established by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to announce its report on a social media ban for children in the coming days. Von der Leyen summarized her approach to the issue with her harsh words: 'The real question is not whether young people should access social media, but whether social media should access young people.' At a time when at least ten EU countries, including France, Italy, and Spain, are planning their own national restrictions for children, Brussels is preparing a comprehensive regulation that will apply across the continent. It should also be remembered that if the final decision goes against Meta, the company could face a massive fine of up to six percent of its global annual turnover.