EU puts 'addictive' design of Facebook, Instagram under the DSA microscope
Brussels says Meta failed to properly assess or mitigate risks posed by infinite scroll, autoplay, and more
The EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) has recently come into full effect for large online platforms, empowering regulators to scrutinize platform design features deemed harmful.
This action signifies a growing global regulatory pressure on platform design choices, potentially forcing significant changes to how major social media platforms operate worldwide beyond just the EU.
Social media companies like Meta may be compelled to redesign core user engagement features to comply with anti-addiction regulations, impacting their business models and user experience.
- · Digital well-being advocates
- · Users concerned about algorithmic addiction
- · Competitors offering less addictive platforms
- · Meta
- · Social media platforms relying on infinite scroll and autoplay
- · Advertisers dependent on maximum user engagement
Meta faces potential significant fines and mandatory platform redesigns within the EU.
Other jurisdictions may follow the EU's lead, legislating against 'addictive' design patterns, creating a fragmented global regulatory landscape for social media.
A shift in platform design could lead to a broader re-evaluation of attention-based economies, fostering new business models less reliant on maximizing screen time.
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Read at The Register