🇺🇸 영어 원문
Meta must change Facebook’s and Instagram’s “addictive” design or face a heavy fine, the EU has warned.
In its preliminary findings, the European Commission said features such as infinite scroll, autoplaying videos and personalised recommendations could encourage “compulsive use”, particularly among children and teens.
If Meta does not make suitable changes, it could be fined up to 6% of its total global annual turnover.
A spokesperson for the tech giant told the BBC it disagreed with the findings “which don’t accurately take into account the significant steps we’ve taken to protect teens”.
In the preliminary findings, the Commission said the endless stream of content “shift the brain into autopilot mode, contributing to unhealthy habits”.
In particular, it is particularly concerned about the impact social media platforms may have on younger users.
“Protecting the physical and mental health of Europeans must be a priority for social media platforms,” EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said in a statement.
The Commission said Meta failed to adequately assess the risks posed by how Facebook and Instagram were designed, as well as how long children spend on the platforms, particularly at night.
It raised concerns about features such as Reels and Stories, arguing they could contribute to excessive use, and claimed Meta’s safeguards do not go far enough.
The Commission said time-management tools on Facebook and Instagram, including those enabled by default for teenagers, can be dismissed and do not meaningfully reduce usage.
And it also criticised Meta’s parental controls, arguing they are only effective if parents have the time and technical expertise to understand and use them properly.
But Meta said it had rolled out Teen Accounts that “automatically protect teens and put parents in control – allowing them to block access to Instagram at night and cap daily screen time at just 15 minutes”.
The tech giant can now review the evidence against it and submit its formal response.
“We share the European Commission’s commitment to providing teens with safe, positive online experiences and will continue to engage constructively with them,” a Meta spokesperson said.
The EU has in recent months stepped up efforts to force big tech companies to better protect users online, especially children.
The findings come ahead of recommendations expected on Monday from an expert panel tasked with proposing new ways to shield children from harmful online content.
The EU is facing pressure to act, with countries including France pushing for a social media ban for minors following Australia’s restrictions for under-16s.
🇰🇷 한국어 요약
유럽 연합 (EU) 은 메타 (Meta) 가 페이스북과 인스타그램의 ‘중독성’ 있는 디자인을 바꾸지 않으면 막대한 벌금을 물겠다고 경고했습니다. EU 는 무한 스크롤이나 자동 재생 같은 기능이 특히 청소년들의 강박적인 사용을 부추길 수 있다고 지적했죠. 만약 메타가 적절한 조치를 취하지 않으면 전 세계 연간 매출의 최대 6% 에 해당하는 벌금을 부과받을 수 있습니다. 메타 측에서는 자신들이 청소년 보호를 위해 이미 많은 조치를 취했다고 반박했지만, EU 는 여전히 보호 장치가 충분하지 않다고 보고 있습니다. 이는 디지털 환경에서 청소년의 정신적, 신체적 건강을 지키기 위한 중요한 규제 움직임입니다.
🔑 핵심 단어 (Vocabulary)
- Addictive – 중독성을 유발하는 – Meta must change Facebook’s and Instagram’s “addictive” design.
- Compulsive – 강박적인 – features… could encourage “compulsive use”.
- Turnover – 매출액 – 6% of its total global annual turnover.
- Safeguards – 보호 장치 – claimed Meta’s safeguards do not go far enough.
- Excessive – 과도한 – contribute to excessive use.
- Parental controls – 부모 통제 기능 – criticised Meta’s parental controls.
- Commitment – 헌신/약속 – share the European Commission’s commitment.
- Constructively – 건설적으로 – engage constructively with them.
- Shield – 보호하다 – shield children from harmful online content.
- Restrictions – 제한 – following Australia’s restrictions for under-16s.
🔗 원문 링크
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8j2dje3pldo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss