Could South African kids get safer Instagram and Facebook? Meta deal opens door

Johannesburg – South African children could eventually see stronger safety measures on Instagram and Facebook after Meta agreed to an up to US$18 billion settlement with almost all US states over allegations that its platforms contributed to harm and addiction among young users.

According to News24, the agreement does not legally require Meta to introduce the same measures in South Africa, but experts believe the company could choose to roll out some of the protections globally.

Under the US settlement, Meta will introduce a two-hour daily limit for users under 18, restrict access to Instagram and Facebook between midnight and 6am unless parents give permission, strengthen age-verification measures and disable most push notifications during school hours.

Meta has also agreed to make several safety settings automatic rather than requiring teenagers or their parents to activate them.

We want to get this right for parents and teens

Meta denied wrongdoing but said: “Ensuring teens have a safe and productive experience on our platforms is an absolute imperative for Meta. We want to get this right for parents and teens.”

The agreement follows allegations that Meta deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram in ways that could make them addictive to children.

Reuters reported that the settlement could also become a model for governments and regulators seeking stronger protections for young social media users around the world.

The Associated Press (AP) reported that the changes will apply only in the US under the current agreement. The settlement requires Meta to strengthen its technology for identifying underage users, including through its own and third-party tools, with regular independent audits.

However, child-safety advocates have warned that the measures do not address all the risks associated with social media.

Key question 

Former Meta engineering director Arturo Béjar described the settlement as a “significant milestone”, but cautioned that parents should not suddenly regard Instagram as safe for children. He argued that limiting screen time does not necessarily address the potentially harmful content being delivered to young users.

The international implications are already emerging. Reuters reported that Australian officials said the settlement demonstrated that social media companies have the technology to better protect young users, while regulators in South Korea, Brazil and Europe are also examining stronger measures.

For South Africa, the key question is whether Meta will voluntarily extend the US protections to local users or whether regulators will eventually require similar safeguards.

The developments come as governments worldwide face growing pressure to address children’s exposure to harmful content, addictive platform designs and inadequate age verification.