Meta Implements New Safety Features for Young Users Following Lawsuit Settlement

Why it matters locally: While a national policy, these new Meta safety features will directly affect all young Instagram and Messenger users in Arizona, including those in Phoenix, Tucson, and Mesa, by altering their app experience and privacy settings.

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Meta has introduced new restrictions for young users on its Instagram and Messenger platforms. These updates stem from an $18 billion settlement in a child-safety lawsuit. The company states the new features aim to create a safer environment for teens on its applications. Under the new guidelines, Instagram will automatically set private accounts for all users under 16, or under 18 in certain regions. The platform will also restrict direct messages between teens and adults they do not follow. On Messenger, users under 16, or under 18 in some areas, will only receive messages from Facebook friends or phone contacts. Additionally, Meta will block messages from adults to teens who are not connected to them. The settlement also mandates other adjustments across Meta's products. For users under 18, Facebook Dating will be deactivated, and the company will implement new parental supervision tools for Messenger. Meta will also restrict the types of content visible to young users. The company will block posts depicting self-harm, eating disorders, or suicide from appearing in the feeds or recommended content for teen users. Meta also plans to offer an option for parental control features across its platforms. These tools will allow parents to monitor and manage their children's app usage and privacy settings. The company has not specified a timeline for the full rollout of these parental controls.