The European Commission has launched a formal investigation into Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, to determine if its social media platforms have addictive effects on children. This comes after another investigation was initiated due to concerns about Meta’s handling of disinformation and misleading political advertisements.
The Commission is concerned that the algorithms used by Instagram and Facebook may encourage addictive behavior in children and create ‘rabbit hole’ effects, where users are led to more extreme content. To address these concerns, the Commission is basing its investigation on the European Digital Services Act, which classifies Instagram and Facebook as ‘very large online platforms’ with additional obligations to protect users.
Despite Meta submitting a risk assessment last year, the Commission suspects that the company is exploiting minors’ vulnerabilities and not effectively protecting them from harmful content. As a result, the Commission can impose interim measures or accept commitments from Meta during the investigation process.
The European Commission is committed to enforcing the Digital Services Act and ensuring compliance from online platforms. Investigations into Meta, X, AliExpress, and TikTok have been opened to address concerns about protecting minors and combating disinformation. The Commission emphasizes that the start of a formal procedure does not indicate the final outcome, but intervention measures can be taken if necessary.
Meta is facing scrutiny for its potential impact on social debates and election processes. The investigation will look at whether Instagram and Facebook are promoting harmful content that could influence young people’s beliefs or actions in negative ways. If found guilty of such actions, Meta could face significant penalties or changes in its operations to prevent further harm to vulnerable individuals.
Overall, this investigation highlights the importance of protecting young people from harmful content on social media platforms while also holding companies accountable for their actions in this regard.
