The European Commission has opened a formal investigation against Facebook and Instagram over concerns that these platforms encourage addictive behavior in children.
European Union (EU) regulators have opened a formal investigation into Facebook and Instagram over child protection concerns, the European Commission said on Thursday.
The Commission stated that the systems of Facebook and Instagram, including algorithms, can “exploit the weaknesses and inexperience of minors and cause addictive behavior, and/or enhance the so-called ‘rabbit hole effect’.”
The rabbit hole effects “draw you into increasingly disturbing content,” the statement said.
European Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton said the bloc was not convinced that Meta had done enough to comply with the EU‘s Digital Services Act (DSA).
Both Instagram and Facebook are designated as very large online platforms (VLOPs), which means they must adhere to the DSA’s strictest rules.
Regulators said the assessment of the two social networks owned by Meta was needed to counter “potential risks to the realization of the fundamental right to the physical and mental well-being of children, as well as respect for their rights.”
