Technology
Tuesday, January 9th, 2024 5:04 pm EDT
Key Points
- Meta Introduces Content Restrictions for Teenagers: Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced new measures to limit the type of content accessible to teenagers on its platforms. The company aims to provide more age-appropriate experiences for teens on Facebook and Instagram by defaulting their settings to the most restrictive options. The updates will prevent teenage users from searching for certain topics and prompt them to update their privacy settings on Instagram.
- Focus on Mental Well-being Amid Lawsuits: The decision comes in the wake of mounting claims and legal actions against Meta, with a bipartisan group of 42 attorneys general suing the company in October. The lawsuits allege that Meta’s products, particularly Facebook and Instagram, contribute to mental health issues among teenagers, including problems like body dysmorphia and eating disorders. New York Attorney General Letitia James accuses Meta of profiting from children’s pain by intentionally designing addictive platforms that lower self-esteem.
- History of Criticism and Whistleblower Testimony: Meta has faced criticism since 2021, with a Wall Street Journal report, based on whistleblower Francis Haugen’s documents, revealing that Facebook (before it rebranded to Meta) knew Instagram was harmful to many teenagers. Haugen later testified to a Senate panel, asserting that Facebook prioritizes profits over users’ health and safety, driven by algorithms directing users toward high-engagement content. In November, Meta whistleblower Arturo Bejar testified that the company was aware of the harm its products caused young users but failed to take appropriate action. The latest policy change is part of Meta’s ongoing efforts to address concerns related to the impact of its platforms on teenage mental health.
Meta announced on Tuesday that it will implement restrictions on the type of content accessible to teenagers on Facebook and Instagram amid growing concerns about the addictive nature and detrimental effects of its products on the mental well-being of younger users. The new measures, intended to provide teens with more age-appropriate experiences, will default settings to the most restrictive options, limit searches on specific topics, and prompt updates to Instagram privacy settings for teenage users. The updates, expected to be completed in the coming weeks, aim to shield users under 18 from content related to self-harm, eating disorders, restricted goods, or nudity. This move follows a lawsuit filed by a bipartisan group of 42 attorneys general in October, alleging that Meta’s products contribute to mental health issues in teenagers. The attorneys general claimed that Meta deliberately designed its platforms to be addictive and harmful, causing problems like body dysmorphia and eating disorders. In November, Meta whistleblower Arturo Bejar testified before a Senate subcommittee, revealing that the company was aware of the harm caused by its products to young users but failed to take appropriate action. Similar complaints have plagued the company since 2021, and a Wall Street Journal report in September of that year, based on documents shared by whistleblower Francis Haugen, detailed how Instagram was repeatedly found to be harmful to many teenagers. Meta’s latest policy change has not been specifically attributed, but the company stated that it regularly consults with experts in adolescent development, psychology, and mental health to enhance the safety and age-appropriateness of its platforms for young users.
For the full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/09/meta-to-restrict-teen-content-as-complaints-mount-about-youth-harm.html
