The European Union is pushing Meta to alter core features on Facebook and Instagram, citing concerns that auto-play videos, infinite scroll, and personalized recommendations contribute to addictive user behavior. The European Commission's preliminary findings suggest Meta inadequately assessed the risks these design elements pose to users, especially minors and vulnerable adults, potentially leading to unhealthy habits and compulsive use.

Meta contests these findings, with a spokesperson stating the company has implemented protections for teens, including default settings for Teen Accounts that limit screen time and nighttime access. However, the EC maintains these measures are insufficient, arguing that parental controls require technical expertise and significant user effort, thus failing to neutralize the inherent risks of the platforms' addictive design.

The Commission proposes that Meta disable features like auto-play and infinite scroll by default, integrate effective screen time breaks, and modify its recommendation algorithms to reduce their engagement-centric nature. Failure to comply could result in substantial fines under the EU's Digital Services Act.