The European Union (EU) has raised concerns over several key features on Meta social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram, as regulators intensify efforts to strengthen online safety, particularly for younger users.
Read More: EU orders Meta to curb addictive features
According to international media reports, the European Commission has questioned design features that encourage prolonged use of the platforms. These include infinite scrolling, automatically playing videos and highly personalised content recommendations, which regulators believe may contribute to excessive screen time and negatively affect children’s mental well-being.
The Commission has reportedly asked Meta to review and modify these features to better align with the European Union’s digital safety standards. Officials argue that platform designs should prioritise user welfare and reduce mechanisms that may encourage compulsive engagement, especially among minors.
The latest scrutiny forms part of the European Union’s broader push to hold major technology companies accountable for how their platforms are designed and how digital services impact users. European regulators have increasingly focused on ensuring that online platforms provide safer digital environments while protecting privacy and consumer rights.
Media reports indicate that if Meta is found to have violated relevant European regulations, the company could face financial penalties of up to six percent of its annual global revenue. The potential fine highlights the strict enforcement powers available to EU regulators under the bloc’s digital governance framework.
Meta has rejected the allegations, saying the assessment does not fully recognise the measures it has already introduced to improve the safety of younger users. The company maintains that it has implemented a range of tools and safeguards designed to give teenagers and parents greater control over online activity and content recommendations.
Read More: EU pressures Meta to curb addictive social media features
The discussions between Meta and European regulators are expected to continue as authorities review the company’s compliance with digital safety requirements. The outcome could influence future standards for social media platform design and strengthen oversight of technology companies operating within the European Union.