EU examining Meta’s impact on addiction and safety risks for minors
European Commission Investigates Meta’s Approach to Child Protection
Meta is once again facing scrutiny for its approach to protecting children. The European Commission is investigating whether the company has violated the Digital Services Act by not doing enough to prevent children from becoming addicted to social media and ensuring their safety and privacy.
Assessment of Risks and Safety Measures
The Commission is particularly concerned about how Meta’s platforms may exploit minors’ vulnerabilities and contribute to addictive behavior. It will assess whether Meta is taking necessary steps to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate content and if it has effective age-verification and privacy tools in place.
Meta’s Response and Prioritization of Safety
In response to the investigation, Meta highlighted features like parental supervision settings and content restrictions for teens. However, the company has faced criticism for failing to prioritize the safety of young people, with incidents involving harmful content suggestions and misinformation. The Commission has already launched formal proceedings against Meta for various concerns, including deceptive advertising and the lack of effective tools for monitoring civic discourse.
