The European Commission has taken a strong stance against Meta Platforms, urging the company to alter addictive features on Facebook and Instagram or face significant fines. This move, announced on July 10, 2026, follows a two-year investigation under the EU's Digital Services Act.
EU's Demands for Change
Regulators are specifically targeting features like autoplay and infinite scroll, which they argue keep users engaged for excessive periods. The Commission's preliminary findings indicate that Meta has not sufficiently assessed the risks associated with its highly personalized recommendation algorithms.
Our starting point is that, based on our findings, this design is too addictive and changes need to be made.
Henna Virkkunen, EU Tech Chief
- Disable autoplay and infinite scroll by default.
- Introduce effective screen-time reminders.
- Reduce focus on engagement-driven recommendations.
Meta has pushed back against these findings, asserting that it has implemented measures such as Teen Accounts that help protect younger users. The tech giant faces potential fines of up to 6% of its global annual revenue if it fails to comply with the EU's demands.
This latest challenge for Meta mirrors similar actions taken against TikTok earlier this year, as regulators worldwide increasingly focus on social media's impact on mental health, especially among youth.
The European Commission is also exploring the phenomenon of 'rabbit hole' effects driven by recommendation systems, which can lead users to engage with content for extended periods. A forthcoming report may further influence discussions about age restrictions on social media platforms, particularly regarding access for users under 13.