Looks like Meta’s got some explaining to do. The European Commission just called them out for not doing enough to keep kids under 13 off Facebook and Instagram. Why does this matter? Well, it puts Meta in hot water with Europe’s Digital Services Act (DSA) — and there could be a hefty fine coming their way.
The EU’s preliminary decision followed a nearly two-year investigation. They’ve found that Meta’s current age-verification measures are as effective as a chocolate teapot. Kids can easily fake their age when signing up, and the tools to report underage users are apparently a pain to use. This isn’t the first time Meta’s tripped up over DSA rules, and it could cost them up to six percent of their global revenue if they don’t fix things. That’s a potential $12 billion down the drain!
Meta’s response? They’re sticking to their guns, saying they do have systems to keep youngsters out and are working on even better ones. But the EU isn’t buying it. They’re calling for Meta to step up its game with more serious age-checks. It’s not just about age, either — there’s an ongoing probe into whether these platforms could be causing harmful habits in kids.
Keep an eye out for Meta’s next move. Will they roll out new measures soon, or face that eye-watering fine? Stay tuned!
Photo by Bastian Riccardi on Pexels
