Meta has publicly contested the European Commission's preliminary ruling regarding its social media platforms, stating that Facebook and Instagram have been found to possess design elements deemed addictive. This finding could potentially lead to significant penalties for the company under the Digital Services Act.

The European Commission's assessment highlighted features such as infinite scrolling, autoplay videos, and inadequate parental controls. These elements are criticized for fostering excessive use, particularly among younger users. The Commission argues that these design choices are detrimental to the physical and mental well-being of users, especially minors.

Preliminary Findings and Potential Consequences

Published on July 10, the preliminary findings could impose fines reaching up to 6% of Meta's global annual revenue. However, it is important to note that this is not a final verdict. Meta has the opportunity to respond to the findings before the Commission decides on any penalties.

According to the Commission, Meta has failed to thoroughly evaluate the impact of its app designs on young users. It noted that the company's existing measures, including time-management tools and parental controls, are inadequate and ineffective against the addictive features that drive user engagement.

Meta's Response and Future Commitments

A spokesperson for Meta acknowledged that the company does not entirely disagree with the Commission’s findings, particularly concerning its operations concerning teen accounts. Nevertheless, they maintained that Meta is committed to collaborating with the Commission on improving child safety features. The company claims to have invested over a decade into building over 50 tools aimed at protecting younger users from excessive exposure to its platforms.

The investigation initially began in May 2024, focusing specifically on how these features affect minors and vulnerable adults. Meta's prior claims regarding improvements to user safety have come under scrutiny, with the Commission asserting that the alleged fixes do not sufficiently mitigate the risks associated with prolonged app usage.

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