Meta Faces EU Scrutiny Over Child Safety Failures on Social Media Platforms
Meta has been found in preliminary breach of European Union regulations for failing to effectively prevent children under 13 from accessing its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. The findings come after a nearly two-year investigation by the European Commission under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
According to regulators, Meta’s current systems do not adequately verify users’ ages, allowing underage individuals to bypass restrictions by providing false information. Additionally, tools designed to report underage accounts were deemed ineffective, raising concerns about user safety and platform accountability.
The Commission emphasized that digital platforms must actively enforce their own policies and take concrete steps to mitigate risks, particularly for minors. If the findings are confirmed, Meta could face fines of up to 6% of its global annual revenue.
Meta has disputed the preliminary conclusions, stating that it continues to invest in technology to detect and remove underage users while working collaboratively with regulators. The company also highlighted that age verification remains a broader industry challenge.
The case reflects increasing regulatory pressure across Europe, where governments are considering stricter controls on youth access to social media amid rising concerns over online safety, mental health, and exposure to harmful content.
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