The European Commission has preliminarily found Meta, the owner of WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram, in breach of the Digital Services Act for failing to keep children under 13 off Instagram and Facebook. The finding, issued on 29 April 2026, concludes that Meta’s age enforcement is largely ineffective, with children able to enter false dates of birth at signup without verification.
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The Commission says roughly 10 to 12 percent of children under 13 are using the platforms despite Meta’s own minimum age, and that the company disregarded available scientific evidence on harms to younger users. Reporting tools for minor accounts require up to seven clicks to access. Meta now has the right to respond before the Commission issues a final decision. A formal non-compliance ruling could trigger a fine of up to 6 percent of global annual turnover.
Sources: European Commission, Euronews, CNBC, NPR
