- Instagram is growing 10x faster than Facebook in the EU, according to Meta’s DSA filings.
- Facebook lost users in Germany, the Netherlands, and Greece, underscoring regional weakness.
- Meta’s moderation workforce remains fixed at 40,000, with shifts in enforcement patterns.
- Instagram has become Meta’s growth driver in Europe, while Facebook risks marginalization.
- DSA transparency reporting is surfacing platform-level trends that Meta avoids in earnings calls.
Meta’s reporting reveals Facebook losing ground in some markets while Instagram gains momentum.
Meta’s latest EU Digital Services Act (DSA) Transparency Report provides one of the clearest views yet of how its platforms are evolving in Europe. The headline finding is stark: Instagram is growing at ten times the rate of Facebook across the EU.
Between January and June 2025, Instagram expanded its user base significantly, while Facebook barely moved—and even lost ground in several countries. For regulators, advertisers, and competitors, the numbers highlight a generational shift in platform relevance and raise questions about how Meta’s strategic focus is shifting inside Europe.
Instagram’s Momentum vs. Facebook’s Plateau
The raw data underscores a widening gap. Instagram reached 281.8 million monthly active users in the EU in the first half of 2025, while Facebook logged 263.6 million. Since March 2024, Facebook’s user base in the EU grew just 0.65%, compared with Instagram’s 6.17% increase.
Notably, Facebook’s audience actually declined in the Netherlands, Greece, and Germany, markets that were once core to its European footprint. By contrast, Instagram not only expanded across nearly all member states but also strengthened its position as Meta’s cultural and commercial engine for younger demographics.
This divergence illustrates more than just raw user counts: it reflects shifting social habits, where visual-first, creator-led platforms are gaining ground while legacy networks lose relevance.
Moderation and Enforcement Trends
The DSA requires platforms to disclose enforcement efforts, offering a second lens on how Meta is managing growth. Meta reported a global moderation workforce of 40,000 employees, unchanged since 2023.
The enforcement data revealed mixed patterns:
- Spam removals declined on both Facebook and Instagram.
- Bullying and harassment takedowns increased significantly on Facebook.
- Hate speech removals dropped by around 20%, though Meta said this was due to definitional changes rather than weaker oversight.
These figures suggest Meta is maintaining enforcement capacity while recalibrating definitions and leaning more heavily on AI systems. For European regulators, the question is whether these adjustments align with the DSA’s intent of greater transparency and accountability.
Competitive Context: TikTok and LinkedIn on the Rise
Meta’s filings also sit alongside disclosures from TikTok and LinkedIn, and the contrast is telling. TikTok grew its EU audience to 170 million, a 25% increase since late 2023, fueled by automation-heavy moderation systems. LinkedIn, meanwhile, posted steady growth at 14% year over year, while significantly expanding its human moderation workforce.
Taken together, the reports reveal three diverging strategies:
- Instagram leaning into cultural momentum and steady growth.
- Facebook showing signs of decline, even within Meta’s broader “Family of Apps.”
- TikTok racing ahead with automation, raising questions about oversight.
- LinkedIn doubling down on human moderation to build trust.
For Meta, the message is clear: Instagram is the company’s growth driver in Europe, while Facebook risks drifting into legacy status.
Strategic Implications for Meta and Advertisers
The data strengthens the perception that Instagram is Meta’s central engine for user growth, engagement, and advertising in Europe. For advertisers, the platform’s trajectory suggests stronger ROI opportunities, especially among younger demographics. For Meta, the challenge is whether Facebook can retain relevance in regions where its base is stagnating or shrinking.
The transparency reports also underscore how platform-specific data—once obscured by Meta’s consolidated “Family of Apps” reporting—can reveal divergent trends. Regulators will likely seize on this granularity as they continue to evaluate how large platforms meet obligations under the DSA.
Instagram’s Rise Signals Facebook’s Decline
Instagram’s tenfold growth advantage over Facebook in Europe is more than just a numbers story—it is evidence of a structural shift in how users engage with Meta’s platforms. As Instagram surges and Facebook stalls, Meta’s strategy in Europe will increasingly hinge on cultivating Instagram’s momentum while managing the reputational and regulatory burdens of its legacy network.
