Meta has made considerable efforts to improve the safety of its platforms, especially for teenage users, amid growing worries about the sexualization of children on the internet. Recently, the firm disclosed the removal of around 135,000 Instagram accounts engaged in inappropriate behavior, such as posting sexualized comments or requesting sexual images from adult-managed accounts featuring minors. This move is part of a wider initiative focused on shielding young users from exploitation and harmful content.
Alongside the account removals, Meta has introduced new default safety settings for accounts owned by teenagers and those supervised by adults for children. These settings automatically obstruct offensive messages and restrict interactions with strangers, thereby fostering a safer online environment for younger users.
The concern surrounding teen safety on social media has attracted heightened attention from lawmakers, who have voiced worries about these platforms potentially being addictive, promoting unrealistic beauty ideals, enabling cyberbullying, and exposing minors to grooming by sexual predators. In response to these issues, the Senate passed the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) last year, which requires social media companies, including Meta, to offer features that turn off algorithmic feeds and other addictive functionalities for users under 16. The act also mandates parental supervision tools and protections against harmful content, including materials that endorse eating disorders or self-harm.
Despite the Senate’s endorsement, KOSA has not yet been voted on in the House, leaving its future in doubt. Nonetheless, it has been reintroduced this year, igniting renewed hope for its enactment. Meta seems to be proactively tackling these issues in anticipation of possible legislative transformations.
As social media continues to progress, the obligation of platforms like Meta to protect their younger users grows increasingly vital. The company’s recent actions signify an acknowledgment of this duty and a dedication to establishing a safer online environment for all users, particularly the most vulnerable.
