Technology
Meta settlement prompts questions for UK and other platforms
Other social media platforms have not yet responded, and the discussion among advocates is far from concluded.
Published 27 Aug, 13:24 · Pearl Hundred newsroom
This article explores the ramifications of the Meta settlement for the UK and addresses other related inquiries.
The image displays a mobile phone screen featuring the Facebook and Instagram logos, with the Meta logo visible in the background.
Meta's recent settlement, valued at $18 billion (£13.3 billion), involves nearly every US state and signifies more than just a financial agreement.
As part of this agreement, Facebook and Instagram have committed to implementing several significant measures aimed at safeguarding children online; however, Meta has not conceded any wrongdoing.
These protective measures include setting time limits, issuing screen time alerts, and providing parents with greater control over their children's accounts.
Initially, these provisions will only apply to children within the United States, but their impact could extend globally.
Should these measures establish a precedent, other social media companies might eventually be compelled to adopt similar regulations.
The United Kingdom already possesses its own set of provisions designed to safeguard children online.
The Online Safety Act primarily focuses on restricting the content that young people can access on the internet.
However, the UK government has already gone further than the current US ban.
Earlier this year, it announced a complete prohibition on social media for individuals under 16, which is scheduled to come into effect in 2027.
Additional measures will be applied to 16 and 17-year-olds, such as usage curfews and restrictions during specific hours of the day.
The United States has, to some degree, followed a similar trajectory: initially regulating content on platforms, then progressing to limiting social media access.
Nevertheless, a key distinction is that children in the US will not face an outright ban.
Instead, they will be prevented from accessing Facebook and Instagram during nighttime hours, must adhere to specified time limits, and will receive prompts if they use the platforms for extended periods.
Unlike the UK, these measures are not legally mandated and, for now, will only apply to Facebook and Instagram (further details provided below).
The UK government stated it was "closely monitoring developments" related to the Meta settlement.
Now that Meta has agreed to these safety features in the US, other nations might begin requesting their implementation as well.
Written and edited by the Pearl Hundred newsroom.