Meta’s $18bn Settlement Sparks Global Calls for Child Safety

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has reached a major $18 billion settlement with 29 US states. This deal ends a legal battle where states accused the company of creating addictive products that harm young people. As part of the agreement, Meta will introduce new safety measures, including daily time limits and blocks on usage during the night. While the company has not admitted to any wrongdoing, these changes represent a significant shift in how one of the world’s largest tech firms manages its platforms.

According to The Guardian Technology, the UK government is now calling for Meta to apply these same protections to children in Britain. Pat McFadden, the UK work and pensions secretary, stated that the government does not want young people in the US to have a higher level of protection than those in the UK. The proposed changes include a default two-hour daily limit for users under 18 and a block on notifications during the school day. These measures go beyond existing UK plans, which include a broader social media ban for children under 16 set to begin in 2027.

BBC Business reports that while these new features currently apply only to the US, there is a strong possibility they will expand globally. Former Meta director Zvika Krieger noted that the company likely agreed to these changes because it saw the "writing on the wall" regarding future regulations. Meta itself has encouraged other platforms, such as TikTok and YouTube, to adopt similar standards. The company argues that it wants a "level playing field," meaning it does not want to be the only company restricted while its competitors remain free to attract young users without these limits.

This settlement comes at a time when many countries are taking action to protect minors online. The Guardian World notes that countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, France, and Turkey have already passed laws to ban or limit social media access for children. The Tech Policy Press suggests that nearly 20 other nations are currently considering similar rules. These global efforts reflect a growing concern about how algorithms—the systems that decide what content users see—can influence the mental health and behavior of teenagers.

However, some critics argue that these settlements do not address the deeper problems caused by big technology companies. The Guardian World highlighted the case of Abrham Meareg, who is suing Meta over its role in the death of his father in Ethiopia. Meareg’s case focuses on how Facebook’s algorithm promoted harmful content during a civil war. His lawyers argue that Meta has often avoided responsibility for the real-world impact of its platforms. For people like Meareg, the focus on US child safety is only one part of a much larger issue regarding the power and lack of accountability of global tech giants.

Legal experts are watching these developments closely. James Grimmelmann, a professor at Cornell University, told The Guardian Technology that the settlement is a sign of "vulnerability" for Meta. It shows that courts and governments are becoming more willing to challenge the tech industry. While Meta’s share price rose after the deal was announced—suggesting that investors were relieved the company avoided a much larger fine—the long-term impact on its business model remains uncertain.

As the UK and other nations push for more control, the pressure on social media companies will likely increase. Whether these platforms can effectively protect young users while maintaining their business growth is a question that remains unanswered. For now, the focus remains on whether Meta will voluntarily roll out its US safety features to the rest of the world, or if governments will be forced to pass new laws to make those changes happen. As Trevor Johnson, a former senior figure at Meta, told BBC Business, these platforms rarely change unless they are told to do so by regulators.