EU says Meta didn’t do enough on kids

Another day, another Brussels headache

Meta is back in the EU’s crosshairs. Regulators say the company’s own rules say Facebook and Instagram aren’t for kids under 13, yet preliminary findings suggest the platforms aren’t doing much to stop those kids from getting in anyway.

Why investors should care

This isn’t just a schoolyard scolding. A major EU fine would be another cost item on top of the broader regulatory pressure Meta keeps swatting at like a mosquito that learned to file paperwork.

• The allegation goes to child safety and platform controls, not just a slap-on-the-wrist policy issue.
• If the EU decides Meta broke tech rules, the company could face financial penalties and tighter oversight.
• The bigger risk: this adds more uncertainty around how Meta runs its ad machine and social apps in Europe.

The big picture

Meta has spent years trying to prove it can be a responsible giant instead of just a giant giant. But when regulators start talking about underage access and compliance gaps, that usually means the adult supervision phase is not over yet. Big picture: the fine, if it lands, may not be existential — but it’s another little tax on being one of the biggest companies on the internet.