Editorial: A turning point in social media history

The Meta's $18 billion settlement marks a belated recognition that harm can be embedded not merely in how social media is used, but in how it is designed

Safeguarding children from the potential harms of the social media platforms is one of the biggest challenges for parents and nations alike. Driven by algorithms, the addictive content keeps teenagers glued to their gadgets in an endless consumption loop. Those fighting for the cause of child safety and strict social media regulation now have something to celebrate. A landmark settlement has been reached in the United States under which the social media giant Meta will pay $18 billion to end a lawsuit over claims that its platforms have caused immense harm to children with addictive content. This is a big victory for those demanding accountability from social media companies for the harmful effects that their algorithm-based content is causing to the teenagers. The settlement may well be a major turning point for the internet industry and could bring fundamental changes to the way young people experience social media in future. The trial stemmed from a lawsuit filed in 2023 by 29 US states, including California and New York, in which they claim numerous violations of federal and state privacy laws for children. Not only did the states seek billions of dollars from Meta, they demanded it make changes to Instagram and Facebook, including ending “like” counts and infinite scroll. The case is widely seen as the largest consumer protection lawsuit in American history”. Apart from paying the penalties, Meta has agreed to limit how long teenagers can spend on its platforms and to bans on features that stoke mental health issues, striking at the heart of the company’s business of engagement for advertising.

The settlement marks a belated recognition that harm can be embedded not merely in how social media is used, but in how it is designed. Infinite scrolling, personalised recommendations, notifications, likes and other engagement tools are designed to capture attention and keep users returning. The question, therefore, is not simply whether children spend too much time online, but whether platforms are permitted to engineer compulsive engagement in the first place. Meta’s proposed safeguards — including daily limits, overnight restrictions and changes to features that encourage constant engagement — are a step forward. But the settlement leaves the company’s advertising-driven business model largely intact. India can draw lessons from the settlement. While blanket ban is no solution, there is a need for a digital regulation that will make social media platforms accountable for foreseeable harms arising from product design. Behavioural advertising aimed at minors should face strict restrictions. There is much more to be done in the fight to make technology platforms safe. Modifying recommendation algorithms to focus more on users’ long-term interests than their short-term behavior remains a central challenge. As important as the time a child spends on an app is, what they are shown is just as important. Traditionally, social-media platforms’ business models have been predicated on maximisng users’ time and attention.

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