The EU investigates whether Facebook and Instagram generate addictive behavior among minors

The European Union announced this Thursday the opening of an investigation to determine if the social networks Facebook and Instagram, of the group Goalcause addictive behaviors in minors.

“We are not convinced that (Meta) has done enough to mitigate the risks of negative effects on the physical and mental health of young Europeans on its Facebook and Instagram platforms,” said the European Commissioner for the Internal Market in a statement. Thierry Breton.

The research derives from the Digital Services Law (LSD), one of the regulatory pillars on digital platforms in the European bloc.

This is the sixth formal investigation launched by the European Comissionthe executive arm of the EU, under this legislation, and the second against Meta.

In this specific case, the investigation seeks to determine whether or not the two social networks comply with their obligations regarding the protection of minors, including the actual verification of the age of their users.

In its statement, the Commission expressed its concern that the algorithms applied by Meta on Facebook and Instagram stimulate addiction or the so-called rabbit hole effect.

This effect occurs when a user is incited by an algorithm to consume a certain topic, in a cycle that leads to manipulated or dangerous content.

“Furthermore, the Commission remains concerned about the age verification methods applied by Goal“, indicated the note.

In the investigation, the Commission also seeks to determine whether the platforms comply with their obligation to “implement appropriate and proportional measures to guarantee a high level of privacy and security for minors.”

At the end of April, the European Commission had already opened an investigation against Facebook and instagramdue to suspicions that the two platforms were not complying with their obligations in the fight against disinformation.

The LSD, in force since the end of last August, defines particularly strict rules for a group with platforms considered giants due to their number of users, such as X, TikTok or Meta services.

In total, some 23 firms and internet sites (including three dedicated to pornography: Pornhub, Stripchat and Xvideos) are under close surveillance by the EU.