The **European Commission** has initiated proceedings against **Meta**, alleging violations of the Digital Services Act (**DSA**) concerning the protection of children under the age of 13 on **Facebook** and **Instagram**. The core issue revolves around **Meta**'s alleged failure to diligently identify, assess, and mitigate the risks associated with underage users accessing its services. ### Lack of Age Verification While **Meta**'s terms and conditions stipulate a minimum age of 13 for platform access, the company primarily relies on self-declaration without robust enforcement mechanisms. This approach, according to the Commission, allows children to easily bypass age restrictions by providing false birthdates. ### Insufficient Removal of Underage Users The **European Commission** further contends that **Meta** isn't adequately identifying and removing underage users who have already gained access to **Instagram** and **Facebook**. This lack of proactive measures raises concerns about the potential harm these platforms could inflict on younger, more vulnerable users. ### Potential Penalties **Meta** now has the opportunity to respond to these preliminary findings. However, if the **European Commission** ultimately determines that **Meta** has violated the **DSA**, the company could face substantial fines, potentially reaching up to 6% of its annual revenue from core business activities. The Commission also has the power to impose periodic fines to enforce compliance with the **DSA**. ### Conflicting Evidence The **European Commission** claims that **Meta**'s responses to inquiries contradict substantial evidence indicating that a significant percentage (10-12%) of children under 13 are actively using **Instagram** or **Facebook** within the European Union. ### Required Overhaul The **European Commission** is demanding that **Meta** comprehensively overhaul its risk assessment processes concerning the impact of its platforms on children. This includes implementing more effective measures to prevent underage access and improve the identification and removal of existing underage accounts. The Commission has suggested that age verification measures, as outlined in **DSA** guidelines, could be a viable solution. ### Ongoing Investigations In addition to this specific probe, the **European Commission** is also conducting an ongoing investigation into **Meta**'s compliance with **DSA** design requirements aimed at preventing addiction and safeguarding the mental health of all users. ### Broader Trend of Social Media Restrictions This action against **Meta** aligns with a growing trend of stricter regulations on social media usage by minors across Europe. For instance, the French Senate recently voted to ban children under 15 from social media platforms, and similar measures are being considered or implemented in Spain, the Netherlands, the UK, and Norway.