Estonia opposes EU social media age limits as Meta settles US lawsuit

Estonia is opposing European Union plans to implement age limits for social media use, arguing instead that technology companies should be held responsible for ensuring minor safety. Liisa-Ly Pakosta stated that because children are members of the information society, platforms must change their designs to prioritize the best interests of children. She suggested utilizing the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) to turn existing recommendations into legally binding regulations for online platforms.

In the United States, Meta has reached a settlement with a coalition of state attorneys general regarding the impact of Facebook and Instagram on minors. Pending court approval, Meta will implement several protective measures for users under 18. These include a default daily usage limit of two hours across both platforms, a ban on platform use between midnight and 6:00 AM, and restrictions on notifications during school hours and at night. Other measures include enhanced age verification, hiding likes or engagement metrics for young users, and providing improved parental control tools.