EU Probes Facebook, and Instagram for Addictive Behavior Concerns

May 17, 2024

As worries about how social media sites might make people addicted grow, the European Union has recently started an investigation into Meta Platforms Inc. and their goods, like Facebook and Instagram. This move is meant to deal with and control the social problems that come with using these sites too much.

Recent Context

The EU’s investigation comes after more and more studies and accounts suggested that Facebook and Instagram’s design and algorithms might make them easier to become addicted to, especially for younger people. Concerns have been raised by leaks and former workers who say the company may be putting engagement ahead of the health and safety of its users.

What is the Objective of the Investigation?

The EU’s main goal in its investigation is to find out if Meta’s business practices break European laws and standards about digital safety, consumer security, and data privacy. The goal of the study is to find out if these social media sites purposely improve features that can make people addicted, or if the right steps are taken to stop this from happening.

More About addictive behavior

It’s not just drugs that can make people act in addictive ways; gambling and using the internet can also be addicting. Genetics plays a role in about 40–60% of people’s vulnerability to addiction. A brain chemical called dopamine makes addictive behaviors stronger by increasing pleasure reactions. Stress is a major cause of addictive behaviors and often leads to return. Addiction can change the shape of the brain, which can make it harder to make decisions and control behavior. Exposure to addictive substances or behaviors at a young age raises the chance of becoming dependent. Recovery rates from addictive behavior are higher when people get a full treatment plan that includes therapy and support networks, instead of just using grit.

Some Facts about Facebook

Launch and Founders: Facebook was started on February 4, 2004, by Mark Zuckerberg and his friends at Harvard University. It was first called “Facebook.”
Rapid Growth: The website grew quickly, and by 2012 it had one billion users.
“Like” Button: When Facebook first launched the “Like” button in 2009, it was going to be called “Awesome.”
First Facebook “Face”: Al Pacino was the first Facebook “face” to show up in the header of the home page.
Largest Photo Library: The platform has the world’s largest photo library, which is a huge advantage over its rivals.
Eco-Friendly Data Centre: Facebook’s data center in Luleå, Sweden, is very eco-friendly because it only uses hydropower power.
Security Bounty Program: Facebook gives security researchers money to find and report security bugs. This helps make the site safer for all users.

Some Facts about Instagram

Initial Idea: Instagram started as an app for checking in called Burbn, but it was later changed so that it was only for sharing photos.
Name Origin: The name “Instagram” comes from the words “Instant” and “Telegram.”
Launch: Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger worked on the app for eight weeks and released it on October 6, 2010.
First Photo: Instagram’s first photo was of a stray dog near a taco stand in Mexico.
Rapid Growth: In just two months, the website got a million users.
Weekend Hashtag Project: The Weekend hashtag project is an Instagram challenge for pictures with a unique theme.
Design of the Logo: Instagram’s logo is based on old cameras and has a rainbow stripe to honor Polaroid cameras.
Most Liked Photo: The most liked photo on Instagram is an egg, aimed at breaking the record for most likes.