A coalition of 52 MEPs has formally urged Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to mirror the U.S. terms, which include mandatory usage breaks and nighttime notification silences. The frustration is palpable among European officials who argue that Meta is playing a double game: contesting addiction-related findings in Brussels while effectively conceding to the same design flaws before a U.S. judge. Former Commissioner Thierry Breton publicly challenged the Commission to accelerate its enforcement, noting that American courts are currently outpacing EU regulatory efforts.
Meta’s US settlement piles pressure on Brussels regulators
A landmark settlement in an Oakland court, where Meta agreed to pay up to $17.1 billion and restrict teenage screen time, has exposed a stark disparity between American and European enforcement. With the company now offering concessions it previously rejected in Brussels, EU lawmakers are demanding immediate action under the Digital Services Act.
The timing of the settlement complicates the Commission’s upcoming policy agenda. With Brussels preparing to unveil a broader strategy on social media age restrictions this fall, the U.S. deal has set a new industry benchmark that threatens to render the EU’s current deliberations sluggish by comparison. As the Commission grapples with conflicting legal precedents—ranging from expert recommendations for under-13 bans to unfavorable national court rulings in France—the pressure to standardize online safety is intensifying. Von der Leyen is expected to address these social media restrictions later this month, marking a critical juncture for the future of features like infinite scroll.
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