Insider Insights: The Evolution Impacting Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok Users Today

This Week Marks a Turning Point: EU Digital Services Act Initiates Significant Shifts Across Social Media Platforms

Today Marks the Rollout of the EU Digital Services Act, Triggering Substantial Alterations in Social Media Platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and various online retailers and search engines.

Although initially passed in November 2022, the cohort of major companies mandated to adhere to the Act has been granted ample time to implement the necessary adjustments across their platforms.

Decoding the EU Digital Services Act: What You Need to Know

The Digital Services Act encompasses sweeping legislation aimed at holding digital platforms, spanning social media networks, search engines, and online retailers like Amazon, accountable for a broad spectrum of activities.

Within the Act are provisions designed to facilitate the crackdown on illicit content across social media platforms and the sale of illegal goods on online marketplaces.

Addressing disinformation, particularly Russian propaganda, stands as a focal point for the EU.

Enhanced safeguards for children pertain to targeted advertising and content recommendation algorithms on social media platforms. Additionally, digital platforms within the EU's 27 member states will be prohibited from employing race or gender data for ad targeting.

Furthermore, deceptive practices deployed by e-commerce websites to influence consumer purchases, such as concealing delivery information and expenses, are subject to stringent regulation.

What Platforms Are Affected?

Currently, the act impacts a total of 17 platforms and two search engines, each boasting at least 45 million active users. Besides Google and Bing, the affected platforms include:

Alibaba AliExpress

Amazon Store

Apple AppStore

Booking.com

Facebook

Google Play

Google Maps

Google Shopping

Instagram

LinkedIn

Pinterest

Snapchat

TikTok

Twitter

Wikipedia

YouTube

Zalando

However, starting February 2024, the Act will extend its reach to encompass all digital platforms, regardless of their scale. Notably, Twitter has entered into collaboration with the EU Commission and, as of June, has committed to adhering to regulations concerning the dissemination of disinformation.

Unveiling the Impact: How Will Social Media Platforms Adapt to the New Regulations?

EU users of social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook are poised for significant shifts. Here's what they can expect:

1. Users across several platforms will gain the ability to disable automated recommendations dictating their feed content.

2. Instagram users will have the option to exclusively view content from accounts they follow by opting out of ranking systems showcasing new content.

3. On TikTok, the "For You" page will showcase a curated selection of viral videos globally, diverging from personalized content based on recent viewing history. Similarly, Snapchat will enable users to opt out of personalized content based on their data.

While user experiences outside the EU remain largely unchanged, such legislation often influences global standards. In the US, bipartisan support exists for reining in big tech companies and managing platform impacts. However, without a federal equivalent to the EU's GDPR, comprehensive changes akin to those in the EU may take time to materialize across the Atlantic.