UN Warns: Children Shouldn’t Wait for Lawsuits to Be Safe on Social Media
The United Nations has urged more child protection on social media platforms following a $18 billion settlement with the United States for Meta to implement new protections for younger users.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called on social media platforms to be built with children’s safety in mind, and for governments to take action, not wait for court cases or technology companies to provide protection.
“It is not safe for children to have to wait for a lawsuit to come along,” Türk said.
As part of the deal with 48 US states, the District of Columbia and three US territories, Meta will implement measures to enhance children’s online safety. These include daily time limits, night mode and age assurance features.
But some of the settlement relies on TikTok and YouTube following suit.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said he hoped other big platforms would adopt similar protections, but added that he would be looking at additional measures if companies did not take voluntary steps.
The development is based on a 10-point plan for the regulation of social media, which Türk’s office released in May. The framework included more robust data privacy safeguards, safer platform design and better ways to establish users’ ages.
It also cautioned against design elements that might lead to harmful patterns of use among children.
The UN framework did not call for a ban on social media for children, but rather for platforms that are safer by design.
The developments underscore the increasing pressure on technology companies and governments to minimize online risks and allow children to engage safely in online environments from a child protection perspective.
