Financial Times · Meta · European Union · Engadget
The EU thinks Meta isn't doing enough to protect children
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The European Commission is inching closer to fining Meta for violating the Digital Services Act based on the preliminary findings of an EU investigation, The Financial Times reports.
Key facts
- Meta's assessment contradicts large bodies of evidence from all over the European Union indicating that roughly 10-12 percent of children under 13 are accessing Instagram and/or Facebook
- The European Commission first opened its investigation into Meta's platforms in 2024, with a particular focus on child social media addiction
- The European Commission is inching closer to fining Meta for violating the Digital Services Act based on the preliminary findings of an EU investigation, The Financial Times reports
- We're clear that Instagram and Facebook are intended for people aged 13 and older and we have measures in place to detect and remove accounts from anyone under that age," Meta said Financial Times
Summary
Meta's terms and conditions require users to be at least 13 years of age to access Facebook and Instagram, but the EU's investigation found multiple issues with Meta's current approach to getting underage users out. "Meta's assessment contradicts large bodies of evidence from all over the European Union indicating that roughly 10-12 percent of children under 13 are accessing Instagram and/or Facebook," the Commission says. The European Commission is calling on Instagram and Facebook to both strengthen their tools for detecting and removing minors and change their approach to risk assessment. "We're clear that Instagram and Facebook are intended for people aged 13 and older and we have measures in place to detect and remove accounts from anyone under that age," Meta said Financial Times.