Meta has agreed to pay up to $18 billion to settle claims brought by U.S. states alleging that Facebook and Instagram harmed children. Meta will also implement changes aimed at better protecting kids online, including default daily time limits and night-time blocks. The company has denied wrongdoing. Read more in the BBC’s coverage: Meta to pay up to $18bn to settle claims its platforms harm children
Ripple Suicide Prevention has issued the following statement:
Alice Hendy MBE, CEO and Founder of Ripple Suicide Prevention Charity, said:
“META may have denied wrongdoing via this settlement but $16.68 billion is a hefty price to pay to claim innocence. The marginal rules for teenage users will do little to offset the harm that these platforms continue to impose on children and young people. We know that algorithms whether designed to or not are addictive, and harmful content that can push young and vulnerable people into crisis is readily shared and available across the platform. We must use this moment as an opportunity to keep the pressure on companies like META rather than let them off the hook for the danger their products pose in relation to our children’s mental health. We urge the UK government to move forward with the social media ban for under 16s and ensure that non-compliance from social media platforms results in real consequences and potentially jail time.”
David Savage, CTO at Ripple Suicide Prevention Charity, said:
“Social media companies have turned ordinary people into a commodity to be monetised en-mass. META and all social media companies must be properly regulated to ensure safety and the protection of people. Access to social media is not free, our data and time is an asset that is being sold on the open market. If regulation is too costly for these companies, then maybe they should cease to exist.”