EU Targets Meta's 'Addictive' Design Architecture

The European Commission announced Friday that Meta must overhaul the design of Facebook and Instagram or face significant financial penalties. According to TechCrunch, the EU alleges that Meta is in breach of the Digital Services Act by utilizing features that fuel compulsive use and shift users into an "autopilot mode."

Specifically, the Commission identified several architectural elements as problematic: infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and personalized recommendation algorithms. The regulator claims these tools fuel an urge to keep scrolling and that Meta failed to properly assess the resulting risks to the physical and mental well-being of vulnerable adults and minors. TechCrunch reports that the Commission specifically accused Meta of ignoring data regarding the amount of time minors spend on the platforms at night and the compulsive nature of Reels and Stories.

While Meta has implemented time management tools for teens, the Commission argues these are easily dismissed and fail to provide meaningful control. As a result, the EU is demanding that Meta disable autoplay and infinite scroll by default, introduce effective screen-time breaks, and adjust recommendation algorithms to prioritize something other than user engagement.

This marks the second time this year the Commission has found Meta in violation of EU laws; in April, the regulator found Meta failed to prevent children under 13 from using its platforms. If the current findings are confirmed, Meta faces a fine of up to 6% of its total global annual turnover. Meta did not immediately respond to TechCrunch's request for comment.

These regulatory pressures extend to the U.S., where Meta stated in a Monday court filing that four states are seeking $1.4 trillion in penalties over claims that the company misled the public and designed its platforms to addict young users.