Change ‘addictive design’ of Facebook, Instagram, says EU, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• The European Union warned Meta to modify the "addictive design" of its platforms, Facebook and Instagram.
• Meta is accused of failing to mitigate risks posed to users, particularly children and vulnerable adults, by features designed to maximize engagement.
• The European Commission concluded that Meta breached EU content rules, specifically under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
• Non-compliance could lead to a substantial fine of up to 6% of Meta's total worldwide annual turnover.

Detailed Insights:

• The European Commission's preliminary findings identified features like infinite scroll, highly personalized feeds, and autoplay of videos as contributing to compulsive user behavior.
• Henna Virkkunen, the Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy at the European Commission, highlighted the importance of safeguarding the mental and physical health of European citizens.
• Recommended changes include making addictive features like autoplay and infinite scroll opt-in rather than default, introducing effective screen time breaks, and adjusting recommender systems to be less engagement-driven.
• This action is part of a broader EU effort to regulate Big Tech and enhance user protection online, with the investigation into Meta under the Digital Services Act (DSA) commencing in 2024.
• Meta has expressed disagreement with the findings but affirmed its commitment to constructive dialogue with the EU authorities.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Addictive Design: Features engineered into digital platforms to maximize user engagement and time spent, often leading to compulsive use.
• Digital Services Act (DSA): A landmark European Union regulation that holds online platforms accountable for content moderation, user protection, and transparency, aiming to create a safer digital space.
• European Commission: The executive arm of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation, enforcing EU laws, and managing the bloc's day-to-day business.