UN urges social media reform, citing Meta settlement

Key facts

• Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion to 48 US states, DC, and three territories.
• The settlement requires Meta to implement child safety measures like time limits and age verification.
• A significant portion of the payment is contingent on TikTok and YouTube adopting similar safety features.
• UN human rights chief Volker Türk advocated for proactive government regulation of social media for child safety.
• California's Attorney General is pursuing similar safety measures from TikTok and YouTube.

The United Nations human rights chief, Volker Türk, has called for comprehensive reform of social media platforms to ensure child safety, following a significant settlement reached by Meta with nearly all U.S. states. The settlement, valued at up to $18 billion over 10 years, requires Meta to implement enhanced child safety measures, including daily time limits, parental supervision tools, and improved age verification. A substantial portion of the settlement's payout is contingent on other major platforms, specifically TikTok and YouTube, adopting similar safety features.

Türk emphasized the need for governments to take a more proactive role in regulating social media, rather than relying on court cases and corporate actions. He stated that children should not have to wait for lawsuits to be protected online, and while Meta's proposed changes align with his calls, they are not yet sufficient. The UN official also highlighted the importance of data privacy and designing platforms to avoid addictive features.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who was a leading figure in the lawsuit against Meta, indicated his intention to engage with TikTok and YouTube to encourage the adoption of comparable safety measures. Bonta noted that TikTok has expressed interest in discussions. He also confirmed communication with Snap and warned that he is prepared to take further action if these platforms do not voluntarily implement changes similar to those Meta has agreed to. Meta, in its settlement, did not admit to any wrongdoing.