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

A whistleblower who testified against Meta Platforms has criticized the settlement reached by the company with U.S. states, claiming it fails to adequately address teen mental health concerns. Arturo Bejar, a former Meta safety engineer, testified that the firm knowingly underreported teen harm, pushed harmful content, and failed to properly handle reports of child predation.

While California Attorney General Rob Bonta hailed the settlement as making social media less dangerous for children, Bejar argued it only codifies Meta's "safety theater." The settlement requires Meta to pay up to $18 billion over a decade and implement measures such as capping teens' usage of Instagram and Facebook. However, Bejar contends these changes will not significantly improve teen safety on the platforms.