The European Commission has warned Meta that it must redesign parts of Facebook and Instagram that it considers addictive or risk facing a significant financial penalty. The EU regulator said on Friday that a preliminary assessment found the platforms may have violated digital content rules by failing to sufficiently address risks linked to features that encourage prolonged user engagement.

The Commission raised concerns over design elements including endless scrolling, personalised recommendation feeds and automatic video playback. Officials said such features could contribute to excessive use, particularly among children and vulnerable adults. EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen said protecting the physical and mental well-being of European users should be a priority for social media companies.

Under the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), the Commission said Meta could be required to make several changes to Facebook and Instagram. Proposed measures include disabling autoplay and infinite scrolling by default, introducing stronger screen-time break options and adjusting recommendation systems so they focus less on maximising user engagement.

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The EU said its investigation found that existing tools offered by Meta, such as time management features and parental controls, were not sufficient. The Commission noted that parental tools require a certain level of technical knowledge and raised concerns about children’s nighttime usage and the impact of features such as Reels and Stories on compulsive use patterns.

Meta rejected the EU’s preliminary findings but said it would continue working with regulators. The company highlighted its Teen Accounts feature, which allows parents to set restrictions, including blocking Instagram access during certain hours and limiting daily screen time. Meta argued that the EU’s assessment did not fully recognise the measures it has already introduced to improve child safety.

If the Commission’s concerns are confirmed, Meta could face a fine of up to six percent of its global annual turnover. The EU has increased scrutiny of major technology companies in recent years, including a similar warning issued to TikTok over platform design concerns. The broader investigation into Meta also continues to examine issues such as children’s access to the platforms and the possible “rabbit hole” effects of algorithm-driven content recommendations.

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