Facebook and Instagram are being investigated over concerns they could be addictive to children
(Baonghean.vn) - On May 16, the European Union (EU) announced an investigation into social networking platforms Facebook and Instagram owned by Meta, with allegations of violating EU online content rules, especially that they can be addictive to children.
Under the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA), which came into effect last year, tech companies are required to do more to tackle illegal and harmful content on their platforms.
The law requires online platforms to put in place measures to protect children, including preventing them from accessing inappropriate content and ensuring high levels of privacy and security. Failure to comply could result in companies being fined up to 6% of their global turnover or being forced to change their software.
The European Commission (EC) said it has decided to open a wide-ranging investigation into two social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram, due to concerns that they have not adequately addressed risks to children.
“The Commission is concerned that both Facebook and Instagram’s systems, including their algorithms, could fuel addictive behaviour in children, as well as create so-called ‘rabbit-hole effects’, i.e., leading users into a spiral of addictive content,” the EU executive said in a statement.
In addition, the Commission is also concerned about the age verification and assurance methods applied by these social media platforms. The regulator's concern relates to children's access to inappropriate content.
Meanwhile, the parent company of the two platforms, Meta, said it already has a number of online tools to protect children.
“We want young people to have a safe, age-appropriate online experience and have spent a decade developing more than 50 tools and policies to protect them,” a Meta spokesperson said.
“This is a challenge facing the entire industry and we look forward to sharing details of our work with the European Commission,” a Meta spokesperson added.
The investigation is the latest evidence that regulators are increasingly focusing on the harmful effects of social media platforms and other social media on young users, including encouraging addictive behavior.
A report the company submitted to the EU last September, detailing how its platforms protect minors, was not enough to assuage regulators' concerns.
In this regard, Mr. Thierry Breton, EU Commissioner for Industry said in a statement: “We do not believe that Meta has fully met its obligations under the DSA to minimize the risk of negative impacts on the physical and mental health of young Europeans. We are doing our utmost to protect our children.”
Social media giant Meta has faced increasing scrutiny over the impact of its platforms on young users in recent years, and has been sued by local public school boards and attorneys general from multiple states in the US over concerns about children's mental health, child safety and privacy.
Earlier this month, an investigation by the New Mexico attorney general into the potential dangers of the Meta platform led to the arrest of three men accused of child sexual abuse.
Meta has also been regularly targeted by EU regulators, including for its handling of ads from scammers and foreign election meddlers ahead of upcoming EU elections, as well as for disinformation and illegal content on its platforms related to the war in Gaza.