The European Union is preparing to intensify its investigation into Meta Platforms, alleging that its services are designed in ways that may be addictive to children, amid growing regulatory pressure on the US tech giant.

The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, is expected to release preliminary findings accusing Facebook and Instagram of employing manipulative design features that encourage prolonged engagement among young users, according to people familiar with the matter.

The sources, who requested anonymity because the process is not public, said no timeline has been set for the announcement of the findings.

Meta did not respond to a request for comment, while a spokesperson for the European Commission declined to comment.

The Commission launched the investigation in May 2024 under the Digital Services Act, the EU’s regulatory framework governing content moderation.

The probe outlines several suspected violations, including claims that Meta’s interface may harm children’s well-being by creating a “rabbit-hole effect,” where algorithms continuously feed users content designed to prolong their engagement.

Regulators are increasingly prioritising child safety online, pushing platforms to prevent minors from accessing adult content and to strengthen age-verification systems.

In a separate probe, the Commission in April accused the company of failing to adequately prevent young children from using its services.

The development comes amid a broader global effort to shield children from potential harms linked to social media platforms, as parents and lawmakers express growing concerns over issues such as cyberbullying and online exposure.

In the United Kingdom and several other countries, authorities are considering tighter restrictions on children’s access to social media, following Australia’s introduction of similar measures in 2025.