Meta urges TikTok and YouTube to adopt youth protection measures

Meta has issued a public call to competitors TikTok and YouTube to adopt similar youth protection measures. Following a settlement with several U.S. state governments, Meta published open letters via full-page advertisements in major national newspapers, including The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times.

The proposed industry standards include a two-hour daily limit on social media use, blocking app access during nighttime hours, silencing notifications during school hours, and enhancing parental supervision tools. Meta argues that these protections are only effective if implemented across all platforms, noting that restrictions on one app often lead teenagers to migrate to another.

This move follows a massive settlement in which Meta agreed to pay up to $16.7 billion to resolve lawsuits regarding social media addiction. Notably, the settlement includes a condition where a portion of the payment is contingent upon state governments securing similar agreements with other competitors like TikTok, YouTube, and Snap. Industry analysts suggest Meta's campaign aims to establish itself as a leader in safety while mitigating the risk of losing users and advertising revenue to less-regulated platforms.