META PLANS TO PROVIDE TEENS WITH MORE ‘AGE-APPROPRIATE’ CONTENT AND LIMIT HARMFUL CONTENT

Thu 11 January 2024:

On Tuesday, Meta Platforms said that it would block additional content from being viewed by minors on Facebook and Instagram. This occurs after global regulators pushed the social media giant to shield kids from inappropriate information on its platforms.

In a blog post, Meta said that all teens will now be placed into the most restrictive content control settings on its apps. Furthermore, additional search terms will be limited on Instagram, said the tech giant.

This means that now it will be more difficult for teens to access sensitive content such as suicide, self-harm and eating disorders, even while using features like Search and Explore on Instagram.

As per a Reuters report, Meta said the measures which would help deliver a more “age-appropriate” experience are expected to roll out over the coming weeks.

It has been alleged that Meta apps Instagram and Facebook are addictive and have contributed to a youth mental health crisis.

The company faces pressure both in the United States and Europe. In October, the social media giant was sued by the attorneys general of 33 US states, including California and New York. The attorneys general alleged that the company repeatedly misled the public about the dangers of its platforms.

In Europe, the European Commission has demanded information from Meta about its methods of safeguarding children from illegal and harmful content.

Arturo Bejar, a former Meta employee, testified before the US Senate, claiming the company was aware of the harassment and other issues faced by teens on its platforms, but that it failed to take action.

Bejar has urged Facebook and Instagram to change the design of Facebook and Instagram to nudge users towards positive behaviours and give young people better ways to handle the bad experiences. On Tuesday, he said that Meta’s changes did not address his concerns. He remarked that the company was relying on “‘grade your own homework’ definitions of harm” and that it still fails to offer a way for a teen to easily report an unwanted advance. Talking to Reuters, he said, “This should be a conversation about goals and numbers, about harm as experienced by teens.”

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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