Meta's $18B settlement prompts calls for
Amnesty International USA says Meta's $18 billion settlement with states must lead to sweeping design changes on social media to protect children's rights.
Meta has reached an approximately $18 billion settlement with 47 US states over claims its platforms harmed children. The company has also committed to specific safety-oriented design changes on its social media apps, according to Amnesty International USA.
Justin Mazzola, Amnesty International USA’s Deputy Director of Research, stated the settlement is a turning point for all social media. He argued platforms must now fix harmful features to protect children and young people.
For years, Amnesty International and civil society have warned that major social media platforms prioritize engagement and profit over protecting children's rights. Mazzola welcomed Meta's proposed design changes but said they stop short of a fully safe platform.
He noted that hyper-personalized feeds, which Amnesty research has shown can be extremely harmful for children, will remain switched on by default.
The call for built-in safety
Amnesty has long called for platform design change. Child safety must be built into platforms from the start, Mazzola asserted. The settlement sends a clear message that social media companies cannot ignore children's wellbeing and rights.
Design changes are the necessary solution. Companies must now take further steps to fully redesign their apps for child-safety and to respect all users' rights.
Settlement details and allegations
The landmark case, filed by states in 2023, accused Meta of violating privacy laws and intentionally designing products addictive to children. Meta denied all allegations.
In addition to the financial penalty, Meta agreed to make changes to Facebook and Instagram. The agreed changes include several specific measures.
| Change | Applies To |
|---|---|
| Default two-hour time limit | Users under 18 |
| Ban on features causing mental health issues | Platforms |
| Ban on display of numbers of likes or reactions | Users under 18 |
| Commitment to enhance parent supervision | Platforms |
These changes bring the case to an end. Amnesty International USA's response highlights the ongoing struggle for international civil rights in the digital sphere. The organization frames the issue around the right to safety and the violation of children's wellbeing by addictive design. The legal settlement is presented as a potential mechanism for remedy, though advocates say more comprehensive reforms are needed to fully align platform operations with rights-respecting principles like those in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
