What does the Meta settlement mean for the UK? Five things we learned – BBC News
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What the Meta settlement means for the UK, and other questions after the deal
By Imran Rahman-Jones
Technology reporter
Published 2 hours ago
Meta’s $18bn (£13.3bn) settlement with nearly every US state is more than just money. As part of the deal, Facebook and Instagram have agreed to implement several significant measures to protect children online—though Meta has not admitted to any wrongdoing. These include:
- Time limits
- Warnings over screen time
- Enhanced parental controls
Currently, these measures will only apply to children in the US, but they could influence global policy. If they set a precedent, other social media companies might be forced to adopt similar rules.
What does this mean for the UK?
The UK already has its own online safety measures in place, primarily focusing on restricting access to harmful content. However:
- The UK government plans a complete ban on social media for under-16s from 2027.
- Temporary bans and restrictions during certain hours will apply to 16 and 17-year-olds.
While the US takes a two-pronged approach—policing content first, then restricting access—the UK focuses more on direct regulation.
The Meta settlement may empower the UK to request similar safety features from other platforms, as former Meta executives suggest.
Other social media firms?
Meta has called on TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat to implement comparable measures. They argue for a level playing field in regulation:
"All platforms should empower parents and support teens in these ways because we know that when teens are restricted on one app, they simply move to another." (Meta spokesperson)
YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok maintain they have robust child safety policies already in place. However, there will be pressure for them to adopt similar restrictions.
