According to a preliminary decision issued by the European Commission after a nearly two-year investigation, Meta has been found to lack effective measures to verify the age of users and prevent children under 13 from signing up for Facebook and Instagram accounts. The Commission stated that Meta’s failure to enforce its own terms and conditions, which prohibit users under the age of 13, is a violation of the DSA regulations.
In response to the allegations, Meta has defended its practices, stating that it has measures in place to detect and remove accounts of users who are younger than 13. The company emphasized that age verification is a complex industry-wide challenge and that it is committed to working with the European Commission to address the issue.
The European Commission’s investigation revealed that Meta’s platforms, Facebook and Instagram, are not adequately assessing the risk of children under 13 being exposed to age-inappropriate content and experiences. The Commission criticized Meta for not taking concrete actions to protect underage users, despite the platforms’ terms and conditions explicitly stating that they are not intended for minors under 13.
The EU’s executive branch, led by Henna Virkkunen, emphasized that the DSA requires platforms like Meta to enforce their own rules and take proactive steps to protect users, especially children. Failure to comply with the DSA regulations can result in significant fines for companies, amounting to up to 6% of their worldwide annual revenue.
As Meta now has the opportunity to respond to the preliminary findings before the European Commission issues its final decision, the tech giant faces the challenge of addressing the concerns raised by EU regulators regarding the protection of underage users on its platforms.
The ongoing investigation and potential repercussions for Meta highlight the growing importance of online safety and age verification measures in the digital landscape. As social media platforms continue to play a significant role in the lives of young users, ensuring the protection of minors and enforcing age restrictions are crucial steps towards creating a safer online environment for all users.
#SocialMedia #OnlineSafety
References:
– NPR: https://www.npr.org/2026/04/29/g-s1-119157/eu-meta-underage-users
– The Verge: https://www.theverge.com/tech/920313/meta-facebook-instagram-eu-dsa-age-verification
– The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/29/business/meta-instagram-facebook-children.html
– Fast Company: https://www.fastcompany.com/91534073/meta-isnt-doing-enough-keep-minors-off-facebook-instagram-says-eu?partner=rss&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss+fastcompany&utm_content=rss
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