May 16, 2024
Facebook and Instagram suspected to be 'too addictive'
The European Union is investigating Facebook and Instagram over whether they are having "Negative effects" on the "Physical and mental health" of children. "The Commission is concerned that the systems of both Facebook and Instagram, including their algorithms, may stimulate behavioural addictions in children, as well as create so-called 'rabbit-hole effects'," the EU said announcing the investigation. EU Commissioner Thierry Breton said in a post on X: "We are not convinced that Meta has done enough to comply with the DSA obligations - to mitigate the risks of negative effects to the physical and mental health of young Europeans on its platforms Facebook and Instagram". Fellow commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a statement: "We have concerns that Facebook and Instagram may stimulate behavioural addiction and that the methods of age verification that Meta has put in place on their services is not adequate." Meta is already under investigation by the EU over concerns around political disinformation.
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