Meta settlement falls short on teen mental health protections, whistleblower says

A whistleblower who assisted in building a child safety case against Meta Platforms claims its recent settlement with U.S. states does not sufficiently address teen mental health issues. Former Meta safety engineer Arturo Bejar testified in court that Meta had deliberately underreported teen harm, pushed them toward harmful content, and inadequately dealt with child predation allegations.

While the states and Meta settled, Bejar asserts the agreement does not meaningfully tackle the issues he testified about. Meta stated the settlement promotes greater parental controls, time limits, and improved detection of underage users, but Whistleblower Bejar argues the settlement amounts to "safety theater" that will not make social media safer for teens.