EU Orders Meta to Remove Addictive Features from Facebook and Instagram or Face Fines

The Indian Express—The European Commission formally found Meta in breach of the Digital Services Act over addictive design features on Facebook and Instagram, ordering the company to dismantle infinite scroll, autoplay, and other engagement-maximizing mechanics that regulators say harm users' mental health, particularly among young people. Meta faces substantial fines if it fails to comply. The Verge noted the ruling will likely require a fundamental redesign of both platforms. France 24 identified infinite scroll as one of the named features targeted. Hacker News flagged the ruling as the EU's first major DSA enforcement action against addictive design, separate from earlier content moderation cases.

• The Indian Express — EU orders Meta to fix Instagram and Facebook's addictive features or face heavy fines
• ABC News — Technology — EU regulators order Meta to eliminate addictive design elements from both major platforms
• Guardian — EU formally accuses Meta of ignoring mental health risks posed by addictive design
• The Straits Times — EU tells Meta to change its 'addictive design' or face major fines
• Channel News Asia — Instagram and Facebook face heavy financial penalties if addictive features are not removed
• The Hindu — Regulators demand Meta overhaul Facebook and Instagram to protect user wellbeing
• The Independent (UK) — EU demands Facebook and Instagram dismantle design features it calls addictive for users
• The Verge — Both platforms will likely require a fundamental redesign to comply with the ruling
• Forbes — Facebook and Instagram must remove infinite scrolling and similar engagement hooks, EU says
• Financial Times — EU warns Meta over Facebook and Instagram’s addictive feeds
• NL Times — “Addictive design”: Instagram & Facebook violating EU rules, says European Commission
• The Irish Times — EU warns Meta over Facebook and Instagram’s addictive feeds
• NDTV — Change "Addictive Design" Or Face Heavy Fine: EU Warns Meta
• CNBC — Meta formally found to breach EU law through addictive design on Instagram and Facebook
• BBC — EU threatens Meta with fines over features deemed 'addictive' on both platforms
• France 24 — Infinite scroll and autoplay specifically named as features that must be removed
• Hacker News — First major DSA enforcement action targeting addictive platform design
• Reuters — EU tells Instagram, Facebook to change addictive features or risk fines