Key facts
- Meta is expanding content settings for teen accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger globally.
- The initiative aims to prevent children from accessing inappropriate content.
- Instagram is testing a new feature to limit teens from seeing excessive amounts of certain content types.
- Meta warned investors that legal and regulatory blowback over youth social media issues could significantly impact business.
- A Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google negligent for designing harmful social media platforms for young people.
Meta is globally expanding its content settings for teen accounts across Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger to ensure age-appropriate experiences. This move comes amid growing scrutiny of social media platforms regarding child health and safety. The company is also testing a new feature on Instagram designed to diversify the content teens see, preventing repetitive exposure to specific themes like nutrition or coping with anxiety. These changes follow a significant trial where Meta and Google were found negligent for designing platforms harmful to young people, resulting in a $6 million award. Meta has previously warned investors that legal and regulatory challenges related to youth social media issues could materially impact its business.