The European Commission found in July 2026 that Meta is in breach of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) over the “addictive” design of Instagram and Facebook, following a preliminary investigation that began in May 2024. Meta could be forced to redesign both apps and faces a potential fine of up to $12 billion.
The Commission said Meta “did not adequately assess the risks of its addictive design on the physical and mental wellbeing of users, including minors and vulnerable adults.” It specifically called out features including personalized recommendations, autoplay, and infinite scroll, arguing they “fuel the user’s urge to keep scrolling and shift the brain into ‘autopilot mode.'”
The Commission also criticized Meta’s existing user tools. It found that time management features can be easily dismissed, that parental controls require significant effort to be effective, and that Meta’s mental health awareness measures are too limited to adequately address the risks.
If the preliminary findings are made final, Meta may be required to disable autoplay and infinite scroll by default, implement effective screentime breaks, and make its recommendation algorithm “less engagement-oriented.” A confirmed breach could trigger a noncompliance fine of up to 6 percent of Meta’s worldwide annual turnover — based on its 2025 revenue of $200.97 billion, that figure could reach $12 billion.
Meta will have the opportunity to defend itself before any final decision is reached. The Commission is separately assessing Meta’s age verification tools and content protections for minors.
The ruling arrives as the EU considers a bloc-wide ban on social media for users under 16, with a related European Commission report due the following Monday. Meta also faces a US trial in August 2026 over whether its apps are intentionally addictive, with four states reportedly seeking combined penalties of up to $1.4 trillion.
“Protecting the physical and mental health of Europeans must be a priority for social media platforms,” said Henna Virkkunen, the Commission’s tech policy chief. “We are fully committed to enforcing our legislation in Europe.”
Source: The Verge