The European Commission investigates Instagram and Facebook for promoting addiction in minors with their algorithms

The European Commission is in full campaign to try to limit the way in which the main social networks try to attract children. After launching several investigations, they got TikTok to eliminate the controversial rewards program for using its TikTok Lite app.

Now its focus has turned towards Meta, specifically towards two of its most popular social networks: Instagram and Facebook. The European Commission has started an investigation due to concerns that these platforms have bypassed the Digital Services Act (DSA) in those most sensitive points dedicated to the protection of minors.

The Commission is concerned about how Facebook and Instagram algorithms could be promoting addictive behaviors in children, and causing what is known as the “rabbit hole effect” or “rabbit burrow” which refers to the fact that users become accustomed to seeing certain types of content, always seeking content of the same type in an addictive way and losing track of time. This type of behavior would be enhanced by Meta’s algorithms, showing types of content adapted to what the user is looking for and taking them to this state of compulsive consumption of information.

All of this is directly related to the suspicions that Meta’s age verification methods are not entirely effective.

For all these reasons, the European Commission has urged Meta to comply with its obligations in compliance with the Digital Services regulations, restricting the exploitation of addictive behaviors that may affect the fundamental right to the physical and mental well-being of children.

They will also monitor that Meta complies with the requirements designed to mitigate minors’ access to content not appropriate for them, especially those related to age verification, whose procedures may not be effective.

Finally, the EC will investigate whether Meta complies with the implementation of measures to guarantee the privacy and security of minors.

If it is found that the company does not comply with these points and does not take measures to solve them, they would be considered violations of the European Services Law and sanctioning procedures would be initiated.

The investigation is open and will be added to other procedures like the one they initiated against Meta a little over two weeks ago for misleading advertising, political content and other violations.

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