Meta to Offer Non-Personalized Content Feeds on Facebook and Instagram in the EU

Meta confirms upcoming non-personalized content feeds on Facebook and Instagram in the EU to comply with the Digital Services Act (DSA) by August 25. This follows TikTok's similar move. DSA mandates larger platforms to offer users the choice to turn off AI-driven "personalization." The goal is to counter filter bubbles, addiction, and manipulation risks. Meta's president, Nick Clegg, presents the non-algorithmic feed as an option for users to explore content without AI-driven sorting. This EU regulation marks a significant shift in how social media giants approach content delivery.

The DSA requires platforms to allow users to switch off AI-driven "personalization." Meta's new feature enables non-algorithmic feeds, sorting content chronologically or by local popularity. The AI off switch aligns with DSA's aim to empower user choice and autonomy, addressing concerns of addiction and filter bubbles. This marks a significant shift for platforms like Meta and TikTok, altering their ad-driven models for EU users.

Although Meta offers non-algorithmic feeds to the EU, this option isn't available for U.S. users. The DSA regulation highlights the gap between privacy rights in the EU and other regions. The challenge for Meta will be maintaining user satisfaction in markets like the U.S. and U.K. while adhering to EU compliance standards.

Meta aims to persuade EU users to customize AI recommendations instead of switching off personalization completely. The company's transparency efforts include releasing 22 "system cards" for insights into AI ranking content. While transparency is key, providing clear upfront choices for users is essential to ensure true autonomy.

DSA's impact extends to enhanced ad transparency. Meta expands its Ad Library to display and archive all EU-targeted ads, providing more information about targeting parameters and served audiences. This transparency boost aligns with DSA requirements, reflecting a growing trend toward greater ad accountability in the tech industry.

The DSA compliance deadline approaches, driving Meta's introduction of new tools for researchers to study platform content. These tools offer extensive access to publicly available content across Facebook and Instagram, facilitating academic research and analysis.

Meta's compliance team of over 1,000 people is working to adapt its systems to DSA regulations. The company's efforts encompass transparency measures, non-personalized content feeds, and enhanced ad transparency. The ongoing challenge lies in finding a balance between regulatory compliance and user satisfaction in various global markets.