Instagram Outpaces Facebook in EU Growth, Meta Reports
Instagram Surpasses Facebook in EU User Growth
Meta's latest EU Digital Services Act (DSA) transparency report highlights a widening gap between Instagram and Facebook in user growth across the European Union. According to the data, Instagram reached 297 million monthly active users in the first half of 2026, while Facebook recorded 264 million—a slower growth trajectory compared to its sister platform.
The report, mandated under the EU DSA, requires large platforms to disclose biannual user metrics and content moderation efforts. Meta’s findings confirm Instagram’s steady rise, with projections suggesting it could surpass 300 million EU users by 2027. Meanwhile, Facebook’s growth has stagnated, even declining in previous reporting periods.
Threads and Moderation Shifts
Meta’s newer platform, Threads, reported 41 million EU users—a fraction of its global 500 million monthly actives. The company also disclosed a reduction in EU-based moderation staff, dropping from 7,700 in March to 5,900 in the latest report. This aligns with Meta’s broader strategy to integrate AI-powered moderation tools, as previously announced.
Content Moderation Trends
The report noted contrasting trends in content violations:
- Instagram: A 38% increase in terror-related content reports and a 22% rise in child exploitation reports compared to H2 2025.
- Facebook: Declines in hate speech (-19%), spam (-27%), bullying (-30%), and child exploitation (-17%), potentially linked to reduced platform engagement.
Implications for Marketers
The data suggests Instagram holds stronger appeal for EU audiences, while Facebook’s influence wanes. For brands, this signals a need to rebalance ad spend and content strategies to align with shifting user preferences.
Meta’s transparency reports continue to provide critical insights into platform performance and regulatory compliance. like.tg will monitor further updates as the EU DSA mandates evolve.
