EU investigates Meta's child access controls below age 13
EU probes Meta's age verification for under-13 users while developing bloc-wide child protection standards.
Event / Technology
Meta Digital Services Act Enforcement
European Commission issues enforcement orders against Meta requiring modifications to Facebook and Instagram interfaces to address addictive design features targeting minors and vulnerable users. Investigation launched under Digital Services Act framework, with potential fines up to 6% of global annual revenue.
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2026-08-16 to 2026-11-13 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 10 Jul, 15:30 UTC
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What happened
European Commission investigating child access to Meta platforms below age 13
The European Commission found that Meta allowed numerous children under 13 years old to access Facebook and Instagram, exposing them to multiple risks for their well-being and physical and mental development.
European Commission orders Meta to modify addictive features on Facebook and Instagram
The European Commission issued preliminary orders on July 10 requiring Meta to modify interfaces on Facebook and Instagram that it determined were designed to be addictive. The Commission found that features such as unlimited content feeds, highly personalized recommendations, and auto-playing videos were engineered to maximize user engagement and advertising revenue, particularly affecting minors and vulnerable adults.
Los Angeles jury finds Meta and Google liable for platform addictiveness
In March 2026, a Los Angeles jury ruled that Meta and Google were responsible for the addictive nature of Instagram and YouTube respectively, awarding six million dollars to a young woman in a historic first case of its kind.
European Commission developing harmonized measures to limit child and adolescent social media access
The European Commission is developing unified measures at the European level to restrict access to social media for children and adolescents. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was scheduled to receive expert committee conclusions and announce decisions in the fall.
Meta faces potential fine up to 6% of global annual revenue for non-compliance
If Meta does not satisfy the European Commission's requirements or propose adequate remedial measures, the company could face a fine of up to 6% of its worldwide annual revenue under the Digital Services Act framework.
European Commission finds inadequate parental controls on Meta platforms
The European Commission determined that parental controls built into Facebook and Instagram are too complicated for users to manage effectively, and that time-screen limitation settings for adolescents are insufficient to address addiction risks.
Meta disputes European Commission findings on adolescent protection measures
Meta rejected the Commission's preliminary conclusions, stating the company has taken significant measures to protect teenagers. The company highlighted that teenage-specific accounts launched two years prior allow parents to block Instagram at night and limit daytime screen time to 15 minutes.
European investigation against Meta began in May 2024 under Digital Services Act
The European Commission launched an investigation in May 2024 into Meta for suspected insufficient protection of minors online under the Digital Services Act (DSA) framework. A similar investigation had previously been initiated against TikTok.
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2 alternative perspectives
Meta challenges EU findings on teen safety measures
Meta disputes EU findings on teen safety measures in Digital Services Act enforcement response.
EU orders Meta to curb addictive features on Facebook, Instagram
EU demands Meta remove addictive features and improve parental controls or face up to 6% revenue fines.