Meta’s $18bn settlement: How social platforms will change for child users

The $18 billion (£13.3 billion) settlement between Meta and nearly every US state extends beyond just monetary compensation. As part of the agreement, Facebook and Instagram have committed to several key measures aimed at safeguarding children's online safety. However, Meta has not admitted to any wrongdoing in the settlement. These measures include implementing time limits, providing warnings about screen time usage, and enhancing parental controls over their children's accounts.

Currently, these provisions will only apply to US children, but they could potentially influence the global approach to child online safety. If this serves as a precedent, other social media companies may feel compelled to adopt similar regulations. The UK already possesses its own measures to protect children online, primarily through the Online Safety Act, which imposes restrictions on the content accessible to young individuals.

However, the UK government has taken additional steps, such as introducing an outright social media ban for users under 16, set to become effective in 2027. Further measures will apply to 16 and 17-year-olds, including curfews and restrictions during specific hours. The US has followed a comparable trajectory, starting with content moderation on platforms and gradually progressing towards restricting access to social media.

Yet the key distinction lies in the fact that children in the US will not face a complete ban. Instead, they will face time limits and prompts encouraging them to limit their usage if they spend excessive amounts of time on these platforms. Unlike the UK, these restrictions are not legally mandated and will only apply to two platforms at present (more on this later).

The UK government has expressed close monitoring of the Meta settlement developments. Yet, if Meta's safety features are accepted in the US, other countries might follow suit, requesting similar restrictions. Both former Meta and TikTok executives have observed a growing trend among these tech platforms to avoid taking unilateral action unless compelled.

Trevor Johnson, a former senior figure at Meta and TikTok, explained to BBC Radio 4's Today programme that social media companies typically only act in response to directives. However, he believes that the UK, empowered by the safety measures accepted by Meta in the US, may push for comparable restrictions. Former Meta director Zvika Krieger also suggested that Meta agreed to the changes due to a sense of impending bans.

He stated that Meta is likely to roll out these features to other parts of the world as well. While Meta is the focal point of this legal case, it has also sought to involve other major tech companies. In addition to the settlement, Meta called on TikTok and YouTube to implement these measures. The company expressed hope for similar changes from Snap as well.

Meta has consistently advocated for a level playing field regarding regulation, aiming to prevent its rivals from gaining an advantage over Facebook and Instagram that could attract teenagers seeking a more unrestricted online experience. The tech firm believes that empowering parents and supporting teenagers in managing their online activities is essential, as users tend to migrate to other platforms if they encounter restrictions.

YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok have maintained that they already possess robust child safety policies in place. With almost 24 hours having passed since Meta's announcement, these companies have yet to make any public comments. However, former Meta whistleblower Arturo Béjar, who testified in the trial, likened the social media industry to Big Tobacco, asserting that even after being found responsible for harmful products, companies still continued selling and profiting from them.

Conversely, Alexa Knight from the Mental Health Foundation compared the situation to consumer products, arguing that companies should ensure the safety of their products before releasing them, particularly when children are involved. While the settlement is not considered a panacea, it is likely that Meta and its fellow social media companies will face ongoing scrutiny regarding the safety of their platforms, both for children and adults.