Meta Faces EU Test Over Teen Access

The European Union has called out Meta for not stopping kids under 13 from joining Facebook or Instagram, even though the platforms say they’re only for people older than that. The EU’s top officials say Meta lacks solid tools to stop children from signing up and doesn’t do enough to find and delete accounts that are already active. This isn’t just about entry; the Commission worries that these young users could see content that is not suitable for their age. Meta disputes the claim, insisting it already has ways to spot and remove under‑age accounts. The company says figuring out a user’s age is tough for everyone in the industry and promises to share new plans next week.The scrutiny comes under the Digital Services Act, a set of rules that pushes tech firms in Europe to clean up their platforms and protect users. Meta can still reply before the EU finalises its findings, but penalties could reach 6 % of a company’s worldwide revenue. An EU executive highlighted that Instagram and Facebook do little to block access by minors, despite saying in their terms that they’re not for those under 13. The Commission stresses that a platform’s rules must lead to real action, not just paperwork.