European Union to Meta: Change the Addictive Design of Facebook and Instagram

The European Union (EU) has taken a serious step against the American technology giant Meta, calling for a change in the "addictive design" of Facebook and Instagram platforms. The Brussels administration stated that the company has not taken sufficient steps to protect users—especially children and vulnerable adults—and argued that the platforms' mechanisms of drawing attention must be limited. Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty at the European Commission, emphasized that protecting the physical and mental health of Europeans must become a priority. In recent months, the EU has significantly increased its efforts to force big tech companies to behave more responsibly towards their users, particularly children. In the preliminary decision issued within this framework, it was explicitly stated that Meta violated its community guidelines and must make radical changes to its design.

If the regulator's decision becomes final, the Meta company could face a massive global penalty. The EU stated that it has the authority to impose a huge fine reaching up to six percent of the company's total global annual turnover. This situation clearly demonstrates the scale of Europe's sanctioning power over tech giants. Brussels officials had previously issued a similar warning to TikTok in February, demanding that it change its design or face heavy penalties. However, a senior EU official noted that there is a slight difference between Meta and TikTok, because Meta has always tried to address the issue of child protection. Still, Brussels believes that current measures are insufficient and a much more systematic change is needed.

The European Commission also detailed a possible change that Meta should implement on its platforms. These changes include disabling addictive features such as 'autoplay' and 'infinite scroll', which constantly keep users' attention. Furthermore, the EU demands the implementation of 'usage time pauses' that are truly effective for limiting screen time, and the restructuring of recommendation systems to focus on user benefit rather than solely generating engagement. In Brussels' review, it was found that current screen time management tools can be easily skipped by users. It was also emphasized that parental controls only work for a specific technical setup for families, which fails to adequately protect children.

The Meta company stated that it firmly disagrees with the Commission's conclusions and expressed its determination. Company spokespersons stated that they do not agree with the findings, but announced that they will continue to 'cooperate in a constructive manner' with the European Union. On the Brussels side, officials stated that their main goal is not to punish tech companies, but to achieve a systemic transformation. A senior EU source stated that they would be extremely pleased if this change could be realized through the voluntary commitments and agreements of the companies. This approach shows that the regulatory body uses monetary penalties as a deterrent, but prefers to achieve the real win through corporate cooperation.

These developments form an important part of the broad strategy the European Union has adopted in recent years to curb the 'excesses' of big tech companies. In 2024, the EU launched a formal investigation into Meta under the Digital Services Act (DSA), and this law stands out as one of the most powerful legal weapons used against tech giants. The announcement of this preliminary decision once again confirms Europe's determination regarding online child protection. In the coming days, a panel of experts commissioned by the European Executive is expected to submit concrete recommendations to the EU to better protect children from inappropriate online content. All these steps indicate that the social media ecosystem will be reshaped in Europe and that user health may take precedence over corporate profits.