The European Commission has formally warned Meta that the infinite scroll features on Facebook and Instagram may violate the new Digital Services Act (DSA) of the European Union. In preliminary findings published on Friday, the investigation highlighted that features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and highly personalized recommender systems were not adequately assessed by Meta for the risks of addictive design on the physical and mental well-being of users, including minors and vulnerable adults.
Platform design fuels compulsive behavior
The Commission emphasized that these features fuel the user's urge to keep scrolling, shifting the brain into 'autopilot mode' and contributing to unhealthy habits and compulsive use. Specifically, Meta disregarded available information about the time minors spend on Instagram or Facebook at night and how the optimization of formats like Reels and Stories could lead to excessive or compulsive use of the services.
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Parental controls and time management tools found ineffective
The Commission also criticized Meta's risk mitigation measures, describing time management tools as easily dismissable and not meaningfully limiting the time users spend on the services. Parental controls were deemed effective only if parents possess adequate technical expertise and dedicate time and effort to understand them, a requirement that is difficult for many families to meet in practice.
Mandatory design changes: disable autoplay and infinite scroll by default
At this stage of the investigation, the Commission believes Meta needs to make design changes to both Instagram and Facebook. Proposed measures include disabling addictive features such as autoplay and infinite scroll by default, introducing effective screen time breaks, and modifying the recommender system to reduce its focus on driving engagement. These actions represent a turning point in the regulation of social platforms, which have already been under scrutiny by European authorities.
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Meta disagrees, claims significant steps to protect teens
Meta responded on Friday stating it disagrees with the Commission's findings, claiming they do not accurately take into account the significant steps the company has taken to protect teens. Meta now has the opportunity to exercise its right of defense by reviewing the investigation documents and responding in writing to the preliminary findings. If the provisional conclusions are upheld, the company could face a fine of up to 6 percent of its global annual turnover.
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This case fits into a broader trend of tightening regulation of digital platforms. Meanwhile, initiatives like DuckDuckGo's free YouTube ad blocker show how users seek tools to regain control of their online experience. Legal battles between tech giants, such as Apple suing OpenAI over hardware trade secrets, further highlight the growing tension in the industry. For more on the regulatory framework, refer to the Wikipedia page on the Digital Services Act.
Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/10/eu-facebook-instagram-break-digital-rules
