European Union regulators have opened a formal investigation into Facebook and Instagram over child protection concerns, the European Commission said on Thursday, Paralel.Az reports citing Deutsche Welle.

The Commission said in a statement that systems of both Facebook and Instagram, including the algorithms, may "exploit the weaknesses and inexperience of minors and cause addictive behaviour, and/or reinforce so-called ‘rabbit hole' effect."

The rabbit hole effects "draw you in to more and more disturbing content," according to the statement.

The European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton said the bloc was not convinced Meta had done enough to comply with the bloc's Digital Services Act (DSA).

The DSA requires tech giants to put in measures to moderate illegal content and prvent hate speech as well as ensure safety for children.

The law went into force in August last year. Meta could face fines up to 6% of its global revenue if it is found to have broken the rules.

Meta is already subject to another DSA investigation, also in relation to Facebook and Instagram, on deceptive adveritising and politicial content ahead of European Parliament elections in June.