EU finds Facebook and Instagram's addictive design breaches its content rules
The European Commission preliminarily found that the design of Facebook and Instagram breaches the EU’s Digital Services Act. Brussels says Meta failed to limit the risks its platforms pose to users — particularly children and vulnerable adults — because of features built to maximize time on the apps, including infinite scroll, highly personalized feeds, and automatic video playback.
The Commission wants Meta to strip out or turn off those default “addictive” features and to retune recommendations so they are less optimized to keep users engaged. A preliminary finding is not a final ruling; Meta can respond before the Commission decides. If the breaches are confirmed, the penalty is capped at 6% of Meta’s total global annual revenue — on 2025 figures, potentially up to about $12bn .
Meta rejected the findings , saying they ignore steps it has already taken, including Teen Accounts that apply protections by default and let parents block nighttime access and cap daily screen time. The case is one of the more consequential tests of whether the DSA can force structural changes to product design rather than just content-removal practices.