Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Technology
Jennifer Rankin in Brussels

EU accuses Meta of failing to tackle mental health risks of ‘addictive design’

Hands hold a smartphone displaying a grid of photos, illuminated by purple and blue light
The commission said features such as video autoplay and infinite scroll ‘shift the brain into autopilot mode, contributing to unhealthy habits and compulsive use’. Photograph: ronstik/Alamy

EU regulators have accused Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, of failing to tackle the risks of its “addictive design” on the physical and mental health of users.

In an official charge sheet against Meta released on Friday, the European Commission said features such as video autoplay and infinite scroll, which provides an endless stream of content, “shift the brain into autopilot mode, contributing to unhealthy habits and compulsive use”.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.