The European Commission plans to escalate its investigation into Meta’s Facebook and Instagram for using exploitative design techniques that make children addicted to their products, according to reports today [1, 2, 3, 4].
The probe began in May 2024 under the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) [2, 4]. Regulators allege Meta’s platforms use a so-called ‘rabbit-hole effect,’ where algorithms feed a continuous stream of content that keeps children engaged longer than intended [2, 4].
The investigation lists multiple suspected breaches, including harm to children’s well-being and failure to prevent young children from accessing the platforms [2, 4]. Regulators have yet to announce a public date for the preliminary findings [1, 2, 3, 4].
Meta has not responded to requests for comment, and the European Commission declined to comment on the impending report [2, 4].
This escalation aligns with wider actions globally. Britain, Australia, and other countries have introduced or are considering restrictions on children’s social media use [2, 4]. In the United States, Meta and other social media companies face thousands of lawsuits alleging their addictive platforms have damaged teenage mental health. A jury ruling earlier this year held Instagram and YouTube liable for harm related to their design [2].
In April 2026, the European Commission also accused Meta in a separate investigation of failing to keep young children off its platforms [2, 4].
The EU is awaiting recommendations from an expert panel expected in July 2026, which will advise on stronger child protection measures such as enhanced age-gating and preventing access to adult content [2, 4]. These recommendations could shape the next phase of regulatory action against Meta and similar platforms.
