EU pressures Meta over addictive Facebook, Instagram features

The European Commission has dropped a preliminary finding that Meta’s autoplay, infinite scroll, and hyper-personalized content feeds on Facebook and Instagram are addictive—especially for minors and vulnerable users. They say these features put brains on autopilot, fueling compulsive scrolling and unhealthy habits. Meta has a few months to push back, and it’s already arguing it’s done a lot to protect teens, pointing to features like Teen Accounts and parental controls. But the EC isn’t impressed, saying those tools only work if parents are tech-savvy and put in serious effort—and they fail to address the core addictive design. The EC’s suggestion? Turn off autoplay and infinite scroll by default, force screen-time breaks, and make the recommendation engine less engagement-obsessed. This isn’t a final ruling yet, but it’s a clear shot across Meta’s bow. Why it matters: If the EU forces these changes, it could set a global precedent for how social platforms must handle addictive design, reshaping the entire user experience industry-wide.