Meta's $18bn settlement may hasten reckoning for social media on child safety
Perhaps our days of doomscrolling are numbered, writes the BBC's technology editor Zoe Kleinman.
Meta has reached an $18 billion settlement in a legal battle involving claims that the company's platforms harm children. This surprising decision came after a five-day trial involving 29 states in the US, nearly two-thirds of North America. The trial, based on the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), centered on Meta's collection and use of data from children under the age of 13 over several years.
Despite Meta's claims of implementing numerous safety measures, whistleblower testimony revealed that harmful content was still reaching children, and many safety tools were not effectively utilized. The settlement, which is significantly less than the potential maximum fine, includes several new safety features for Instagram and Facebook users aged 13-17, such as a two-hour daily usage limit and hidden likes.
However, the rollout of these features will take up to a year, and Meta acknowledges that for these changes to be effective, other social media platforms must adopt them as well.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
- Meta’s mega settlement could change social media UX as we know it fastcompany.com
- Meta reaches $18 billion of settlements over children's social media addiction channelnewsasia.com
- Meta Reaches $18 Billion of Settlements Over Children's Social Media Addiction yro.slashdot.org
- Meta settles landmark social media addiction case semafor.com
- How Meta’s $17.1 Billion Settlement Will Change Social Media entrepreneur.com
