Meta May Be Forced to Offer Default Chronological Timelines in its Apps

"Providers of online platforms that use recommender systems shall set out in their terms and conditions, in plain and intelligible language, the main parameters used in their recommender systems, as well as any options for the recipients of the service to modify or influence those main parameters [...] Where several options are available for recommender systems that determine the relative order of information presented to recipients of the service, providers of online platforms shall also make available a functionality that allows the recipient of the service to select and to modify at any time their preferred option."

"That [selection and modification] functionality shall be directly and easily accessible from the specific section of the online platform's online interface where the information is being prioritized."

"Meta has an interest in steering users toward a feed where it can show as many interest‑ and behavior‑based ads as possible. That is the core of Meta's revenue model. Subtle design techniques push users toward that feed, while the non‑profiled feed is hidden behind a logo, making it hard to find. Users who do choose the alternative timeline also lose direct access to features such as Direct Messages. Moreover, when you open the app, it always starts with Meta's feed, even if the user selected a different one before. Because of the judge's ruling, Meta must change its behavior."

The EU Digital Services Act requires platforms using recommender systems to disclose main recommender parameters and provide users options to modify those parameters in plain language. Platforms must offer functionality letting users select and change their preferred recommender option at any time. That selection feature must be directly and easily accessible from the interface section where information is prioritized. Meta currently guides users toward an ad-optimized algorithmic feed, hides a non-profiled feed behind a logo, restricts features like Direct Messages on alternatives, and defaults to the algorithmic feed on app launch. The court ruling forces Meta to alter these design practices.

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