EU: Meta apps are so addictive they violate the law - EUROPE SAYS
A European Union investigation has determined that Meta’s Facebook and Instagram apps aretoo addictive, presumably after regulators lost half a day watching cooking reels and clips of 20-year-old TV shows. . . .
A European Union investigation has determined that Meta’s Facebook and Instagram apps aretoo addictive, presumably after regulators lost half a day watching cooking reels and clips of 20-year-old TV shows. Now, the European Commission wants Zuck and company to make some changes, or face massive fines. What happened? EU investigators announced yesterday that Meta is currently in breach of the bloc’s Digital Services Act. Regulators said Meta didn’t fully consider how some of its app features fuel compulsive use by sending users, especially younger ones, into a zombified “autopilot mode. ” The preliminary findings now give Meta time to propose remedies before a final judgment—and fines—are handed down. The European Commission has some suggestions:Disable autoplay and infinite scroll. Implement screen time breaks. Make its recommendation algorithm less “engagement-oriented. ”Fine line: If the preliminary findings are upheld, Meta could get fined up to 6% of its annual global revenue. The company said it disagrees with the report, pointing to recent attempts to bulk up parental controls, but that it will “continue to engage constructively” with regulators. Marketplace: Meta investors—who are used to living in the shadow of possible fines related to privacy and safety—collectively responded to the news with a “big whoop,” choosing instead to celebrate the company’s recent AI announcements. Meta sharesclosed nearly 6% higher yesterday, capping off the company’s best week in more than two years. —BC