One of Silicon Valley’s biggest tech companies, Meta Platforms Inc., is currently under investigation by the European Union for allegations that its algorithms may be playing a role in getting children addicted to social media platforms Facebook and Instagram.
The investigation comes under the branch of the EU’s Digital Services Act, a stringent new framework aimed at curbing the dominance of big tech giants and safeguarding users’ security and privacy online. The Act is particularly strict on platforms exploiting the vulnerability of minors and younger users.
The storm was stirred by the EU’s internal market commissioner, Thierry Breton, after preliminary checks indicated potential red flags associated with Meta’s online operation. These purportedly include the creation of ‘rabbit holes’; a term used to describe algorithmic strategies that pull younger users into a cycle of recurring and potentially harmful content on social media.
Despite the promises of Meta to take necessary actions to handle the risks associated with its platforms, the EU’s watchdogs remain skeptical. They hold the view that the social media giant has not done enough to address negative effects affecting younger users’ physical and mental health.
While the allegations are substantial and could potentially lead to heavy fines, at this stage, they are still being investigated. If Meta found violating the clauses of the Digital Services Act, will undoubtedly impact Meta’s operations within the European Union.
For more details, you can read the full news on Bloomberg.