Meta has been warned by the European Commission that its endlessly scrolling Facebook and Instagram feeds may violate the EU's new Digital Services Act rules. In preliminary findings published on Friday, the Commission said that its investigation into features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and highly personalized recommender systems, found that Meta "did not adequately assess the risks of their addictive design on the physical and mental wellbeing of users, including minors and vulnerable adults." From the press release : These features fuel the user's urge to keep scrolling and shift the brain into 'autopilot mode,' contributing to unhealthy habits and compulsive use. Moreover, Meta disregarded available information about the time minors spend on Instagram or Facebook at night and how the optimization of its different formats – such as reels and stories – could lead to excessive or compulsive use of the services. The Commission additionally criticized Meta's risk mitigation measures, saying that the platforms' time management tools could be easily dismissed and don't meaningfully limit the time users spend on the services. It also found fault with Meta's parental controls, which the Commission said were "only effective if parents and guardians possess adequate technical expertise, as well as devote effort and time to understand them." The Commission said that at this stage of its investigation, it believes Meta needs to make design changes to both Instagram and Facebook. These could include disabling addictive features such as autoplay and infinite scroll by default, introducing effective screen time breaks, and modifying its recommender system to make it less focused on driving engagement. Meta on Friday said it disagreed with the Commission's findings, claiming they "don't accurately take into account the significant steps we've taken to protect teens." The Commission said Meta now has the opportunity to exercise its right of defence by reviewing the documents in the investigation file and responding in writing to its preliminary findings. If those provisional conclusions are upheld, the company could face a fine of up to 6 percent of its global annual turnover. Tags: European Commission , European Union , Facebook , Instagram , Meta This article, " EU: Facebook and Instagram's Infinite Scroll May Break Digital Rules " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
Despite what you might have seen on the internet, iPhones sold in the European Union will not have a removable back panel for easy battery replacement, and they probably never will. Here's why. iPhone batteries aren't changing any time soon. Image credit: Apple You've probably seen AI TikTok slop and random Reddit posts that claim the EU will force Apple to bring user-replaceable batteries to the iPhone in 2027. But in what should be a surprise to nobody, they're all wrong. But like so much viral-yet-false information, there's a kernel of truth to it. The EU does have new iPhone battery legislation that comes into effect in 2027. Apple already meets the requirements. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
Apple has significantly lowered its demand expectations for the standard iPhone 17 because of rising hardware costs, a Chinese leaker claimed today. According to the account " Fixed Focus Digital " on Weibo, some production lines for the standard iPhone 17 this week shifted from an earlier 15 percent reduction to plans to suspend roughly one-third of their capacity. The leaker also claimed Apple has made a "very serious" internal assessment of the impact that higher hardware costs could have on demand. The claims can't be independently verified, plus the post doesn't say whether the production adjustments apply to overall iPhone 17 output or only to certain manufacturing lines, so caution is advised. Higher component costs are impacting the electronics industry worldwide due to intense demand from AI companies intent on maximizing data center buildout, and Apple is far from immune. The doubling cost of memory and storage chips over the last year recently led Apple to increase prices across multiple product lines , which CEO Tim Cook called " unavoidable ." So far, iPhones have been spared the hikes, but Apple is widely expected to use the debut of iPhone 18 Pro models in September as a chance to increase the prices of its entire smartphone lineup. Apple is expected to unveil a next-generation iPhone 18 model next spring alongside a new iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2, as part of a new split-launch strategy. Related Roundup: iPhone 17 Tag: Fixed Focus Digital Buyer's Guide: iPhone 17 (Neutral) Related Forum: iPhone This article, " Apple Reportedly Slashes iPhone 17 Demand Forecast Amid Rising Costs " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
Apple's battery supplier has registered two new battery cells believed to be destined for the company's rumored foldable iPhone, according to a prolific Chinese leaker. In a post on Weibo, the leaker known as Digital Chat Station said that the two cells have rated capacities of 1,921mAh and 2,962mAh, for a combined minimum rated capacity of 4,883mAh. "The supply chain is also predicting a total battery capacity of 4,800–5,000mAh, though this still needs further confirmation," the leaker added. If accurate, the dual-cell design would be in line with existing book-style foldable smartphones, which typically split the battery across the device's two halves. In terms of where it sits next to rival foldables already on the market, the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold has a total battery capacity of 5,015 mAh, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 has a 4,400 mAh capacity. For comparison's sake, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are believed to come with 4,288mAh and 5,567mAh batteries , respectively. The leaker's claim appears to conflict with an early rumor suggesting Apple was testing a significantly larger 5,400mAh to 5,800mAh battery for its first foldable iPhone. That report described an engineering test configuration, however, so it's possible Apple has since revised the design. Either that or the rumor was incorrect. A March 2025 rumor claimed that Apple has placed a heavy focus on improving power efficiency while slimming down key components of its foldable iPhone, with battery life said to be a key priority for the company. Separately, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said the device will use high-density battery cells . Apple's foldable iPhone is rumored to feature a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch cover display, along with Touch ID instead of Face ID, an A20 chip, and Apple's C2 modem in some countries. The device is expected to be unveiled alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in September. Apple's book-style foldable could launch as the " iPhone Ultra ," as suggested by reports . IDC has predicted that the foldable will carry an average selling price of $2,500, with storage options potentially priced as high as $3,000. Tags: Digital Chat Station , Foldable iPhone , iPhone Ultra This article, " Foldable iPhone Ultra Battery Capacity Allegedly Registered by Supplier " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
