Changes are in store for adolescent users of social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Meta, the parent company, has reached an agreement to implement alterations to the platform design for young users and to pay up to $18 billion US over the next ten years to settle claims of online harm to youth from nearly every U.S. state and territory. This settlement has been dubbed the largest state consumer protection settlement in history, excluding the Big Tobacco settlements of the 1990s, by a coalition of U.S. attorneys general.
Canadian tech analyst Carmi Levy described this development as a pivotal moment for the social media industry, akin to the tobacco industry’s turning point in the past. He emphasized that Meta and similar companies will face significant changes moving forward.
For teenage users, several modifications are on the horizon for Instagram and Facebook accounts. These include default time limits of two hours daily across both platforms combined, as well as prompts and breaks after specific usage durations to disrupt continuous scrolling. Additionally, blackout periods will be enforced during late night and early morning hours, with muted notifications during school hours, excluding safety alerts. Users will have more control over their feeds, with the option to choose a non-algorithmic feed and disable autoplaying content. Social comparison features will have limits, such as hiding like counts and blocking extreme makeup filters, along with enhanced age verification and content restrictions.
Meta has committed to maintaining its current practices of blocking strangers from contacting teenage accounts and enhancing reporting tools and parental controls. It also pledged to strengthen some measures further, like reducing the daily time limit to one hour, if competing social platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube adopt similar changes.
Although the settlement primarily impacts the U.S. market, there is anticipation that these adjustments may extend globally due to widespread concerns regarding the negative effects of social media on youth in various countries. Levy believes that Meta’s changes are likely to spread to Canada and other regions over time to streamline features across their international operations.
The settlement, lauded as a positive step by advocates like Jenny Perez and Richard Lachman, addresses some addictive aspects of social media use by teens. However, critics like Luke Stark emphasize that the changes are limited and must be scrutinized further. The settlement’s implications for proposed regulations in Canada suggest a potential shift in Meta’s focus towards addressing online safety and algorithm design concerns to align with evolving regulatory landscapes.
Overall, the settlement signifies a pivotal juncture for Meta to address social media challenges and pave the way for advancements in artificial intelligence. Despite the considerable financial settlement, Meta’s strategic focus seems to be directed towards its AI ambitions and long-term growth in the digital landscape.