The company has introduced new tools to protect young users of Facebook and Instagram. The parent company of Facebook and Instagram said in a blog post that new policies are being implemented to protect young people.
Under the new policies, it will be more difficult for users under the age of 18 to access sensitive content such as suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders through features such as Search and Explore.
The company said it will change the settings of all the youth's Facebook and Instagram accounts to make it difficult to access sensitive content. "We maintain that youngsters should approach safe and age-fitting substance in our applications, so we're reporting extra assurances for more youthful clients," the organization said.
According to the blog, if a young user follows an account that posts on sensitive topics, those posts will not appear on that young person's feed. These measures will be implemented in the coming weeks.
The company is taking these steps at a time when it is being criticized by various countries. Meta has been accused of causing a mental health crisis among the younger generation with its apps.
That's why, in October 2023, 33 US states filed a lawsuit against Meta, saying that Meta is misleading the public about the dangers of its social media platform.
The European Commission has also directed Meta to clarify what measures are being taken to protect children from illegal and harmful content.