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Meta Ordered by E.U. to Alter ‘Addictive Design’ of Instagram and Facebook
The New York Times • • business
Key Points:
- European Union regulators have ordered Meta to make significant design changes to Instagram and Facebook to reduce their addictive nature, threatening hefty fines if the company fails to comply.
- The EU demands the removal of features like “infinite scroll” and autoplay videos, the introduction of screen time breaks, and adjustments to recommendation algorithms to be less engagement-driven.
- Meta disputes the allegations, highlighting existing measures such as teen accounts with parental controls to limit screen time and access.
- The EU's move represents a direct regulatory effort to curb social media companies' design tactics that encourage excessive use, particularly among children, following similar actions against TikTok.
- The European Commission is also considering broader regulations that could restrict children's access to social media platforms due to concerns over addictive features.
