The UK government is urging Meta to extend the safety measures for children it has agreed to in the United States to young users in Britain. This request comes after Meta’s significant legal settlement in the US, which could cost the tech giant up to $18 billion. As per the settlement, Meta will implement default protections for users under 18, including a two-hour daily time limit, which can be extended only with parental consent. Additional measures involve restricting overnight access and limiting notifications during nighttime and school hours.
British officials emphasize that children in the UK deserve the same level of protection as those in the US. In line with this, the UK government is preparing to introduce new social media restrictions for children. These plans include banning access for users under 16 on certain platforms and imposing overnight curfews for teenage users. Such steps are part of broader efforts to ensure online safety for young people amid growing concerns over social media’s impact on mental health and well-being.
The US settlement has fueled demands for more stringent regulation of social media platforms globally. There is a rising call for action against features that are seen as encouraging excessive use, such as infinite scrolling, autoplay, and algorithmic recommendations that drive continuous engagement. These features are often criticized for their potential to contribute to addictive behaviors, especially among younger users.
Though the newly agreed-upon time limits and curfews are steps toward safeguarding young users, some experts argue they might not fully address the core issues. Critics point out that simply limiting time spent on these platforms does not tackle the underlying concerns associated with engagement-driven features. These features, designed to keep users hooked, remain a significant point of contention in the ongoing conversation about responsible social media use.