The social media behemoth Meta has released new content guidelines designed to protect adolescents from offensive and potentially dangerous material on Facebook and Instagram. In their blog post, Meta outlined the company’s commitment to providing a safer online environment for kids by prohibiting access to information connected to suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders.
The organisation recognised the need of enabling people to talk about their challenges—such as suicidal thoughts—in order to de-stigmatize these problems. Nevertheless, Meta underlined the necessity of screening and modifying information for younger audiences, acknowledging the intricacy of such subjects. As a result, the business will start eliminating such material from teenagers’ Facebook and Instagram experiences. These adjustments go beyond information that is improper for their age and include stories and postings from people they follow.
Meta stated that they want teens to have safe, age-appropriate experiences on their apps, reiterating its commitment to creating a healthy online environment for younger users.
Teens’ accounts on both platforms will be automatically put to the most restricted settings as part of adopting these new restrictions. This modification will take effect unless the adolescent gives false information about their age while creating the account.
Modifications for Improving the Safety of Teenagers
Apart from the content limitations, Meta has announced many other modifications targeted at improving the safety of teenagers:
Notification System
Meta intends to remind teenagers to check and adjust their Instagram privacy and safety settings by sending them reminders. The intention is to encourage them to choose a safer online experience by educating them about the availability of more private settings.
Recommended Settings
By selecting to “Turn on recommended settings,” teenagers can have their account settings automatically adjusted. Restrictions on who may tag or reference them, repost their work, and include their content into Reels Remixes are all part of this. In addition, only their fans will be able to message them, and abusive remarks will be hidden.
These policy adjustments come after Meta’s platforms came under closer examination and California Attorney General Rob Bonta led a group of 33 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the company. According to the organisation, Meta created features for Facebook and Instagram that encourage teen and kid addiction and have a negative impact on their mental and physical health.
“Today’s announcement by Meta is yet another desperate attempt to avoid regulation and an incredible slap in the face to parents who have lost their kids to online harms on Instagram,” said Josh Golin, executive director of the children’s online advocacy group Fairplay. “If the company is capable of hiding pro-suicide and eating disorder content, why have they waited until 2024 to announce these changes?”
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