EU says ‘disruptive’ content on Instagram and Facebook violates its rules | Social Media Stories

Bloc says some features on Meta’s built-in platforms can cause users’ brains to go into ‘autopilot mode’.

The European Union has accused the parent company of Instagram and Facebook of making both platforms “disruptive”, warning it could face heavy fines if it continues to breach the bloc’s technical rules.

On Friday, the European Commission published the preliminary findings of its two-year investigation Trimclaiming that the company is in violation of the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA). It called on Meta to implement a number of changes to end “forced use”.

The EU said Meta failed to adequately assess the risks Instagram and Facebook pose to users’ physical and mental health.

Politicians around the world have been examining ways to limit the use of television in recent years due to concerns about the health effects of young people who use it. Many studies have found that using social media can harm young people’s health, leading to anxiety and depression.

The bloc cited auto-play videos, individualized views and constant motion as factors that cause users’ brains to switch to “autopilot mode, which contributes to unhealthy habits and compulsive use”. It added that Meta would have to ban “major addictive substances” if it were to comply with the rules.

The organization asked Meta to change the settings of Instagram and Facebook to prevent continuous scrolling and video playback. It also said that algorithms on platforms should provide users with less content.

Fabrizio Esposito, associate professor of law at the NOVA School of Law in Lisbon, told Al Jazeera that the situation is difficult for Meta because the breach “hits the heart” of its business.

“Meta needs from its point of view to try to find a better business strategy or to defend this one in the face of any pressure as far as possible.

“When it loses and is forced to change its business model, the consequences will be very important for recovery,” Esposito said.

Meta disagreed with the EU investigation, saying it had already taken precautionary measures.

“We disagree with these findings, which do not take into account our efforts to protect young people,” Meta spokesman Ben Walters said.

The EU can pay Meta, which will respond to the bloc’s final decision in a few months, up to six percent of its annual budget.