Reform of all social media should come with Meta changes, UN says

The United Nations' top human rights official, Volker Türk, has called for comprehensive reforms in all social media platforms, including Meta, following a significant court case in the United States. Türk emphasized that governments should take proactive measures rather than relying solely on legal actions and corporate initiatives.

Child safety measures, such as time limits and parental supervision controls, are part of Meta's proposed changes in response to the lawsuit. Türk's office had previously released a 10-point framework for regulating social media, which included data privacy protection and safer platform design, but it did not advocate for outright bans on children's use of social media.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who represented one of the leading states in the lawsuit, expressed interest in ensuring that TikTok and YouTube adopt similar safety measures. Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion over a decade to 48 US states, contingent upon TikTok and YouTube implementing the proposed safety features, such as a one-hour daily time limit, night mode, and age assurance measures.

While Meta did not admit to any wrongdoing in the settlement, Türk acknowledged that Meta's changes align with his calls for action, but further steps are needed to ensure children's online safety.