Meta has been given until the end of the year to allow users in the Netherlands to set a chronological, non-algorithmic feed as the default on Instagram and Facebook.

Earlier in October a court in Amsterdam ruled the company should make the change within two weeks, but has now set a deadline of December 31 after the American tech giant said the early deadline could not be met for “practical and technical reasons”.

Meta is also appealing against the court decision and that case will be heard on January 26.

The case was brought by digital rights group Bits of Freedom, which argued that Meta’s current design violates the European Digital Services Act (DSA). The court agreed, saying users must have genuine control over how content is presented.

At present, both apps offer a chronological timeline, but the feature is hidden and cannot be made the default. The court said this undermines the autonomy promised by the DSA.

“Meta Ireland must make users’ chosen recommendation settings on Instagram and Facebook permanent,” the court said at the time.

“The setting must remain in place if a user navigates to another section of the platform or closes and reopens the app or website. Meta Ireland must also ensure that the option for a non-profiled timeline is directly and easily accessible on the homepage and in the Reels section of both Instagram and Facebook.”

Bits of Freedom said the case was prompted by concerns that algorithmic feeds could influence voters in upcoming elections. But the judge ruled the change must apply permanently, not just during the campaign period.