European Commission informed on Mastodonthat Meta Platforms violated the Digital Services Act due to the fact that it did not prevent minors under 13 from utilizing Instagram and Facebook.
Meta Platforms is the owner of Facebook, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp. Under the EU Digital Services (DSA) Act, Instagram and Facebook were considered to be very large online platforms (VLOP – Very Large Online Platform) in April 2023.
DSA is simply a European Digital Services Act, which is intended to guarantee safety erstwhile utilizing online services. In addition to expanding citizens' security, it is besides intended to "support innovation and competitiveness for the tiny and medium-sized enterprises sector".
What are the EU's concerns about Meta?
The meta defines the minimum age of safe access to Instagram and Facebook for 13 years, but according to the European Commission, the measures taken by the company to enforce these restrictions appear to be "ineffective".
The Meta tool for reporting minors under 13 years of age on the platform was considered by the EC to be “hard to use”. Access to the application form is to require up to 7 clicks, and the form itself is not automatically filled in with user data.
Even if a insignificant under the age of 13 is reported to be below the age limit, no appropriate action is frequently taken and a insignificant reported can simply proceed utilizing the service without any control.
Meta position
Meta's assessment maintains a conflicting position with the European Union's data, which indicates that around 10-12% of children under the age of 13 usage Instagram and/or Facebook.
Meta disagrees with the message that services specified as Facebook and Instagram make younger children more susceptible to possible harm by utilizing specified services.
What are the Commission guidelines?
The Commission considers that Instagram and Facebook must:
- amend its hazard assessment methodology,
- strengthen their means of prevention, detection and removal from services of persons under the age of 13,
- better address and reduce the risks these people may encounter.
What are the next steps of the EU?
If the position of the European Commission is yet confirmed, that authority may decide to establish a non-compliance which may consequence in:
- imposing a fine proportionate to the infringement of not more than 6% of the full yearly revenue,
- and possible periodic punishment payments in the event of further infringements.
The European Commission is besides investigating another possible infringements which are part of the ongoing proceedings, including compliance with the obligations under the DSA Law on the Protection of Minors and the Physical and intellectual Welfare of Users of All Age.
The investigation besides includes assessing and reducing the risks arising from the Facebook and Instagram net interfaces project, which can exploit safety gaps and the deficiency of juvenile experience, leading to addictive behaviour and strengthening the alleged "king hole" effect.
Sources
The title photograph was taken by a user named EmDee and is available on Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0 International. The text of the article was based on the following text and/or audiovisual sources:
- Mastodon entry published by the European Commission on 29.04.201226
- DSA document: Very large online platforms and search engines, last updated: 10.03.2026
- Document: The Digital Services Act, last updated: 23.03.2026
- Documents on the July 2025 Law on the Protection of Minors, State at 29.04.2026:
- Communication from the Commission – Guidelines on means to guarantee a advanced level of privacy, safety and safety for minors online, pursuant to Article 28(4) of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065
- The Digital Service Act (DSA) exploited – What online platforms should do to keep kids and teens safe online
- Information sheet ‘User rights under the Digital Services Act‘
