EU accuses Meta of failing to tackle mental health risks of ‘addictive design’
Summary
The European Union (EU) has accused Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, of not addressing the mental and physical health risks caused by features like video autoplay and infinite scroll. The EU says these features encourage unhealthy and compulsive use, especially among children, and may break EU law under the Digital Services Act.Key Facts
- The EU claims Meta’s design features lead to addictive use of Facebook and Instagram.
- Features like video autoplay and infinite scroll make users keep scrolling without thinking.
- The EU is concerned about children using Instagram and Facebook at night and the impact on their health.
- Meta is accused of allowing children under 13 to use its platforms, which breaks EU rules and Meta’s own policies.
- The EU wants Meta to remove autoplay and infinite scroll as default settings and add screen breaks.
- Meta could be fined up to 6% of its total yearly earnings if the charges are confirmed.
- The EU’s Digital Services Act aims to protect users from internet harms like scams, false information, and harmful content.
- This comes just before an EU expert panel’s report on social media use by children, with some countries considering bans for young users.
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