EU Scrutiny Forces Meta to Redesign Instagram and Facebook Features

The European Commission has issued preliminary findings that Meta’s Instagram and Facebook employ design elements – infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications and highly personalized recommendation systems – which the regulator says encourage compulsive use and may harm users’ physical and mental wellbeing, especially minors. The Commission concluded that these features breach the EU Digital Services Act because Meta did not adequately assess the associated risks.

The regulator has ordered Meta to make specific changes, including disabling autoplay and infinite scroll by default, introducing effective screen‑time breaks, and reforming recommendation algorithms to reduce engagement‑driven content. Meta has been given the opportunity to respond in writing before a final decision is made.

If the Commission confirms the breaches, Meta could face a penalty of up to 6 % of its global annual turnover, potentially amounting to around $12 billion. Meta has disputed the findings, citing its existing “Teen Accounts” and parental‑control tools, but the EU’s action signals a major push to curb addictive design in social media platforms.