Meta Platforms is rolling out its “Teen Accounts” function to Fb and Messenger on Tuesday, because it faces sustained criticism about not doing sufficient to guard younger customers from on-line harms.
The improved privateness and parental controls, which have been launched on Instagram final yr, will handle issues about how teenagers are spending their time on social media, the corporate mentioned.
Why Its Vital
Meta’s growth of security options for teenagers comes as some lawmakers say they plan to press forward with proposed laws, such because the Youngsters On-line Security Act (KOSA), looking for to guard kids from social media harms.
Meta, ByteDance’s TikTok and Google’s YouTube already face lots of of lawsuits filed on behalf of youngsters and faculty districts in regards to the addictive nature of social media.
In 2023, 33 US states together with California and New York sued the corporate for deceptive the general public in regards to the risks of its platforms.
Context
Meta mentioned teenagers beneath 16 would require parental permission earlier than they will go stay and disable a function that mechanically blurs pictures doubtlessly containing nudity in direct messages.
“We are going to begin together with these updates within the subsequent couple of months,” the corporate mentioned.
In July 2024, the US Senate superior two on-line security payments — KOSA and The Kids and Teenagers’ On-line Privateness Safety Act — that will pressure social media firms to take duty for the way their platforms have an effect on kids and youths.
The Republican-led Home declined to convey KOSA up for a vote final yr, however steered at a committee listening to late final month that they nonetheless plan to press forward with new legal guidelines to guard children on-line.
Prime platforms, together with Fb, Instagram, and TikTok, enable customers who’re 13 years of age and above to enroll.
© Thomson Reuters 2025
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