EU steps up Meta probe over alleged addictive social media design

MUMBAI: The scroll may be endless, but regulators are hoping the questions are not. Meta Platforms is facing fresh scrutiny in Europe as regulators move closer to expanding an investigation into whether the design of Facebook and Instagram encourages addictive behaviour among younger users.

According to a Reuters report citing Bloomberg News, the European Commission is preparing preliminary findings that could accuse Meta of using platform features that keep users — particularly children and teenagers engaged for prolonged periods, raising concerns around online safety, mental well-being and digital responsibility.

The probe forms part of the European Union’s broader enforcement drive under the Digital Services Act (DSA), legislation aimed at holding major technology platforms accountable for risks posed to users. The Commission first opened the investigation in May 2024, citing concerns that Meta had not done enough to protect minors from potential harms on its platforms.

While regulators have yet to set a timeline for announcing their findings, the direction of travel is becoming increasingly clear. European authorities are examining whether certain platform mechanics from recommendation systems to engagement-driven design elements may be encouraging excessive usage among younger audiences.

The latest development follows earlier action by the EU, which this year charged Meta with breaching technology regulations and argued that the company must strengthen measures preventing children under 13 years of age from accessing its social networks.

Officials are also reportedly considering additional safeguards similar to those introduced in other markets, including the UK. Any future measures could be influenced by recommendations expected from an expert panel due to report next month.

The investigation adds to a growing wave of global pressure on social media companies. Concerns around screen addiction, mental health impacts, algorithm-driven engagement and child safety have increasingly moved from academic debates to courtrooms and regulatory offices.

Meta’s challenges are not confined to Europe. In the United States, the company is facing multiple lawsuits from young users and their families over alleged harms linked to social media usage. Earlier this year, a Los Angeles jury found both Meta and Google negligent in a case examining the impact of platform design on younger audiences, a decision widely viewed as a significant moment in the broader accountability debate.

Meta has consistently defended its approach, arguing that it continues to invest in safety tools and parental controls. However, regulators around the world appear increasingly determined to test whether those safeguards are keeping pace with the influence social platforms exert over younger users.

As the investigation progresses, the debate is shifting beyond what children see online to how platforms are built in the first place and whether the architecture of attention itself is becoming the next battleground in the tech industry’s regulatory reckoning.