EU INVESTIGATES META’S FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM OVER ‘ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOUR’

Fri 17 May 2024:

The European Union regulators have initiated a formal inquiry into Meta for potential violations of online content regulations pertaining to child safety on its Facebook and Instagram platforms.

The European Commission announced on Thursday its concerns that the algorithmic systems employed by these widely used social media platforms to suggest videos and posts could exploit the vulnerabilities and lack of experience of children, potentially encouraging addictive behaviors.

The investigation will also scrutinize whether these systems contribute to the reinforcement of the so-called “rabbit hole,” leading users to increasingly disturbing content.

“In addition, the Commission is also concerned about age-assurance and verification methods put in place by Meta,” the bloc’s executive arm said in a statement.

In a statement, Meta said: “We want young people to have safe, age-appropriate experiences online and have spent a decade developing more than 50 tools and policies designed to protect them.”

The United States-based tech giant added: “This is a challenge the whole industry is facing, and we look forward to sharing details of our work with the European Commission.”

Facebook and Instagram are among the 23 “very large” online platforms required to comply with the DSA. Others include Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.

In February, the commission initiated a probe into TikTok amid suspicions that the popular video-sharing app may not be sufficiently addressing negative impacts on young users.

Moreover, the EU compelled TikTok to suspend its Lite app’s reward schemes in April due to concerns about its “addictive” nature potentially jeopardizing users’ mental well-being.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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