Amnesty International USA has called for major reforms across the social media industry following reports that Meta has reached an approximately $18 billion settlement with 47 US states over allegations that its platforms harmed children.
The settlement is being described by Amnesty as a potential turning point for online child safety. The organization is urging social media companies to redesign their platforms to better protect children and young people and to address features that can encourage excessive engagement.
Under the reported agreement, Meta has committed to several safety-oriented changes across Facebook and Instagram. These include a default two-hour daily time limit for users under 18, restrictions on features associated with mental health concerns, hiding like and reaction counts from younger users and strengthening parental supervision tools.
Amnesty International USA welcomed the proposed design changes but said they do not go far enough to create fully safe and rights-respecting platforms. In particular, highly personalized feeds are expected to remain enabled by default, despite concerns about their potential impact on children.
The organization has argued for years that major social media platforms have been designed to maximize user engagement and profits without adequately protecting children’s rights and wellbeing. It says safety should be incorporated into platform design from the beginning rather than introduced only after harm has been identified.
The legal case began in 2023, when US states accused Meta of violating privacy laws and deliberately designing products that could be addictive to children. Meta denied the allegations and has announced the settlement.
Amnesty says the agreement sends an important message to the technology industry that children’s wellbeing and rights cannot be overlooked. However, it is calling on Meta and other social media companies to take further steps to redesign their platforms around child safety and respect for the rights of all users.
The settlement could therefore become an important catalyst for broader discussions about social media regulation, platform design and the protection of children online.
