Meta: EU threatens huge fines over autoplay and infinite scroll

Yes, the European Union is tired of seeing us glued to our screens. That's why it has asked Meta to disable two of its most 'captivating' features by default: autoplay videos and infinite scroll on Facebook and Instagram feeds. The goal is to give us some digital breathing room.

The request comes directly from the European Commission, which has given Meta six months to comply. This move is based on the Digital Services Act (DSA), a regulation designed to make online platforms more accountable and less 'manipulative'. Essentially, the EU wants us to decide when a video starts or when the feed updates, not the algorithm.

Ignoring the European Union can be very expensive, and Meta knows it well. If Zuckerberg's company doesn't comply with the new rules by the deadline, the EU can impose massive fines. We are talking about penalties that can amount to up to 6% of Meta's global annual revenue.

To put it in perspective, Meta reported approximately $134 billion in revenue in 2023. 6% of that figure would be a colossal fine, capable of shaking even a giant like Facebook. The Digital Services Act (DSA) is a serious tool, and the EU has already shown it intends to apply it firmly, even against tech giants.

For us users, this means the Facebook and Instagram experience might become a little less 'sticky'. If Meta complies, we will no longer see videos starting abruptly or feeds loading infinitely without us asking. We'll have to make an extra gesture to activate these features.

This change could help us use social media more consciously, perhaps reducing the time spent aimlessly scrolling. It's an attempt to give back some control to platform users, instead of leaving everything in the hands of algorithms that only seek to maximize our screen time. Who would have thought Europe would one day 'save' us from doomscrolling?