SAN FRANCISCO. Meta announced on Tuesday its plans to conceal inappropriate content related to suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders from teenagers’ accounts on Instagram and Facebook. The social media giant, headquartered in Menlo Park, California, stated in a blog post that it aims to provide safe and age-appropriate experiences for teens on its platforms.
While Meta already avoids recommending “age-inappropriate” content to teenagers, the company has now decided not to display such material in their feeds, even if it is shared by accounts they follow. Meta emphasized its commitment to ensuring that teens can engage in safe digital experiences.
Teen users, whose age during sign-up was accurately provided, will have their accounts subjected to the most restrictive settings on both Instagram and Facebook. Additionally, they will be restricted from searching for terms that might pose harm.
Meta highlighted the complexity of certain content topics, such as ongoing struggles with thoughts of self-harm, acknowledging their importance in destigmatizing these issues. However, the company recognized that such content might not be suitable for all young people, leading to the decision to remove it from teens’ experiences.
This announcement from Meta coincides with ongoing legal challenges as dozens of U.S. states accuse the company of contributing to the youth mental health crisis. Lawsuits allege that Meta knowingly designed features on Instagram and Facebook to addict children to its platforms.
Critics argue that Meta’s recent measures fall short of addressing the broader concerns. Josh Golin, executive director of the children’s online advocacy group Fairplay, commented, “If the company is capable of hiding pro-suicide and eating disorder content, why have they waited until 2024 to announce these changes?” Despite the criticism, Meta remains committed to enhancing safety measures for its younger user base.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
