EU moved toward Meta charges over child-safety design on Instagram
What's next: Meta could answer the EU's preliminary findings and, if it fails to satisfy regulators, face fines of up to 6% of global annual sales.
The European Commission is preparing preliminary findings against Meta Platforms in its investigation into whether Facebook and Instagram use design features that keep children hooked online. The probe, opened in May 2024 under the Digital Services Act, centers on claims that Meta's interfaces create a “rabbit-hole effect” that can harm minors' well-being by feeding them a constant stream of material. Meta would have a chance to respond and offer remedies before any penalty is imposed. If regulators ultimately find breaches and reject Meta's fixes, the company could be fined as much as 6% of annual global revenue. The case adds to broader pressure on social media companies in Europe and the United States over alleged harms to young users.