EU tells Meta to limit autoplay and infinite scroll on Facebook and Instagram

In short: The European Commission says Meta may need to turn off autoplay and infinite scroll by default on Facebook and Instagram, or risk large fines under EU rules.

What happened

The European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, said it has preliminarily found that some Facebook and Instagram features can be addictive. It pointed to autoplay (videos that start playing on their own), infinite scroll (the feed that never ends), and highly personalized recommendations (posts picked for you by software).

The Commission said Meta did not properly assess how these design choices could affect users’ physical and mental wellbeing. It said the risk is especially high for minors and vulnerable adults. The Commission compared the experience to slipping into “autopilot mode,” where people keep scrolling without really choosing to.

The EU is looking at this under the Digital Services Act, a law that requires large online platforms to manage major risks their services can create. The Commission suggested changes such as disabling autoplay and infinite scroll by default, adding stronger screen time breaks, and adjusting recommendations to focus less on keeping people engaged.

Meta said it disagrees with the preliminary findings. A spokesperson pointed to new “Teen Accounts,” including options like blocking Instagram at night and setting daily time limits, including a 15-minute cap.

Why it matters

If the EU’s final decision confirms these findings, Meta could face fines of up to 6 percent of its global annual revenue. For regular people, this case could change how Facebook and Instagram feel day to day, more like a magazine with natural stopping points instead of an endless conveyor belt.

Source: Arstechnica