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The European Union is investigating Facebook and Instagram over whether they are so addictive that they are having “negative effects” on the “physical and mental health” of children.<\/b><\/p>\n
It will also scrutinise if they have done enough to check whether users are old enough to use them, and how content is recommended to children.<\/p>\n
A number of big tech firms are now under investigation for potential breaches of the EU’s tough new Digital Services Act (DSA), and could be fined up to 6% of annual global turnover.<\/p>\n
Meta, which owns both platforms, says it has “spent a decade developing more than 50 tools and policies” to protect children.<\/p>\n
“This is a challenge the whole industry is facing, and we look forward to sharing details of our work with the European Commission,” it said.<\/p>\n
in September, Meta provided regulators with a report on the risks associated with its platforms, as required under the DSA.<\/p>\n
The EU has responded by beginning proceedings.<\/p>\n
“The Commission is concerned that the systems of both Facebook and Instagram, including their algorithms, may stimulate behavioural addictions in children, as well as create so-called ‘rabbit-hole effects’,” the EU said announcing the investigation, external<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n Rabbit-hole effects refer to the propensity of algorithms, when a user looks at one piece of harmful content, to suggest more of the same.<\/p>\n How Meta checks the ages of users – so called age assurance – is of concern to the EU.<\/p>\n “In addition, the Commission is also concerned about age-assurance and verification methods put in place by Meta”, the statement added.<\/p>\n Algorithms which promote harmful content have also been a key concern<\/a> of the UK communications watchdog Ofcom as it sets out how it may enforce the Online Safety Act.<\/p>\n As with most social networks, users of Meta platforms must be 13 or over, but as Ofcom revealed in a recent report<\/a> many much younger children use accounts, sometimes with the knowledge of their parents.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n