Meta has introduced new restrictions across its platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, as part of a significant $18 billion settlement with U.S. states over the alleged impact of social media on children.
The measures, announced this week, include a daily two-hour time limit for users under 18, hiding the number of likes on posts, disabling video autoplay, muting push notifications during school hours, and banning certain augmented reality makeup filters. Meta has also committed to improving its age-verification processes and parental controls, and will appoint an independent auditor to ensure compliance.
These changes stem from a lawsuit that accused the tech giant of employing design choices that harmed children and enabled illegal drug sales. The settlement marks one of the largest of its kind involving a technology company.
Parents across the United States are acknowledging the positive intent behind the new limits but remain skeptical about their long-term effectiveness. Many describe a sense of being caught between the need to allow their children to participate in online social life and the desire to shield them from perceived harms.
Elizabeth Cardner, a mother of two teenagers in Houston, Texas, views the restrictions as a step in the right direction but believes they do not go far enough. "It will save a few arguments at home, but it doesn't go far enough," she told the BBC.
Cardner's 14-year-old daughter, Paige, anticipates that the changes may lead to more authentic online interactions and less "fake content." She and her sister approve of hiding like counts and restricting filters, though Paige expressed concern that evolving AI technology could circumvent these new measures. "People will find new ways to have fake filters, and correct certain parts of their videos or pictures," she stated, adding that such workarounds would likely emerge as people seek alternative methods.
For parents like Cardner, completely prohibiting social media access for their children is not a viable option, as it could lead to social isolation among peers. "Damned if you do, damned if you don't," Cardner remarked, reflecting the difficult balance many parents face.
Other parents, like Joanie Story and Andria Rose, have also expressed similar sentiments of caution regarding the new rules, awaiting concrete evidence of their impact. They feel that while the new limits are a move towards greater accountability, the fundamental challenges of digital safety for young users persist.