Meta May Soon Face Pressure to Offer Default Chronological Feeds
Tech giant Meta could soon be required to give users the option to view posts in chronological order by default on its apps, including Facebook and Instagram. This change may come as part of new EU regulations aimed at promoting transparency and reducing algorithmic control over user feeds.
Why Regulators Want the Change
The European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) demands that social media platforms offer users more control over what they see. Right now, Meta’s apps prioritize algorithmic feeds that rely on user data and engagement history.
However, regulators argue that people should have a simpler choice — to see posts in real time, not what an algorithm picks for them.
If enforced, Meta will have to add an easy way for users to switch to chronological timelines. This move could reduce the company’s ad targeting power but improve user trust and fairness.
How It Affects Users
For everyday users, this change could mean a more authentic social media experience. You would see the latest posts first, instead of those boosted by engagement metrics.
In addition, creators might gain fairer visibility since their content won’t depend entirely on algorithmic rankings.
However, Meta might resist the change since its algorithm-driven feeds are key to revenue generation. Still, the pressure from EU watchdogs could force the company to comply to avoid penalties.
As a result, Meta’s future updates could reshape how billions of people interact on its platforms — returning social media to its original, chronological roots.
