EU accuses Meta of failing to tackle mental health risks of ‘addictive design’

European Union regulators are cracking down on Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, over concerns that the platforms' addictive design is harming users' physical and mental health. According to an official charge sheet, features such as autoplaying videos and infinite scrolling, which present users with an endless stream of content, are being used as evidence of Meta's failure to address the risks associated with its platforms. The regulators argue that these features can induce a state of autopilot mode, leading to unhealthy habits and compulsive use. As the EU continues to scrutinize the tech giant's practices, Meta's response to these allegations remains to be seen.

Regulators say Facebook and Instagram features such as autoplay and infinite scroll contribute to ‘compulsive use’EU regulators have accused Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, of failing to tackle the risks of its “addictive design” on the physical and mental health of users.In an official charge sheet against Meta released on Friday, the European Commission said features such as video autoplay and infinite scroll, which provides an endless stream of content, “shift the brain into autopilot mode, contributing to unhealthy habits and compulsive use”. Continue reading...