A settlement between Meta and US state attorneys general over alleged harms to children and adolescents has brought platform design under greater scrutiny, drawing recognition from UN experts who also warned that agreements reached behind closed doors cannot replace transparent regulation rooted in human rights. Their concern reaches beyond the terms of one deal: decisions that shape how young people use digital spaces could influence an entire industry without giving those affected a meaningful voice.
The experts described the agreement as a milestone in platform accountability, recognising the importance of holding companies responsible for how their services are designed. They stressed that protecting children requires public participation, independent assessment and rules that address the underlying sources of harm, including commercial practices that encourage prolonged engagement.
Safety Features Can Carry Their Own Risks
The settlement includes default time limits, nighttime and notification restrictions, age-assurance systems, parental controls and an option for users under 18 to choose non-personalised recommendations. These systems draw on aggregate information rather tha...