Facebook and Instagram user habits on the EU's radar: Serious accusations against Meta

The European Commission has placed the design elements used on social media giants Facebook and Instagram under scrutiny. The investigation indicates that features such as infinite scroll, auto-play, and personalized content recommendations encourage individuals to spend more time on the platforms, thereby increasing the risk of addiction.

According to the statement from the Commission, these design elements can negatively impact both the physical and mental health of users. It was noted that, in particular, the increase in personalized content and instant notifications on these platforms fuels tendencies toward unhealthy and excessive platform usage.

Pointing out that Meta has not sufficiently accounted for existing data regarding the time children spend on these platforms during nighttime hours, the Commission stated: "Meta's current risk mitigation measures do not demonstrate effective management of the risks stemming from its addictive design."

The Digital Services Act requires digital platforms to identify and minimize risks that could negatively affect their users. The Commission's statement emphasized that the current findings do not constitute the final decision of the investigation and that Meta has been granted the right to a defense.

If it is determined at the end of the investigation that Meta has violated the relevant rules, it was stated that the company could face administrative fines of up to 6 percent of its annual global turnover. On the other hand, the Commission underscored that Meta must make changes to the designs of Facebook and Instagram.

How Meta will present its defense regarding the investigation and what steps it will take to reduce the risk of addiction on its platforms will become clear in the coming period.