The world’s biggest social media company is implementing new safety features for American teenagers as part of an $18-billion settlement in the U.S.—but won’t be doing the same in Canada. Meta, which owns Facebook, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram, was sued by 47 U.S. states alleging the platforms were designed to addict children, and that the company misled the public about their safety. Meta has denied any wrongdoing. On top of the massive settlement payout, which is taking place over the course of a decade, the company agreed to limit U.S. teenagers to two hours of use per day with overnight blackouts, while also banning facial filters and like counts, among other measures. CTV News asked B.C.’s Ministry of the Attorney General if the government planned to revive Bill 12, which sought accountability from social media platforms for health-related costs—likened to the physical harms caused by cigarettes, which tobacco companies paid out over time. The legislation was paused after the premier said platforms reached out to them to work toward a solution “in good faith.” In response, staff wrote that they are aware of the settlement, which validated concerns about lasting harms of social media. “It’s clear that self-regulation by platforms is not keeping people safe and that a strong national safety standard is urgently needed,” the statement continued, pointing to legislation introduced in Ottawa earlier this year. “That said, B.C. remains concerned about the timelines for passage, enactment, and implementation of Bill C-34’s proposals. We are seeking clarity on key details from Ottawa on how the proposed Digital Safety Commission will operate and enforce the rules.” B.C. has been a leader in implementing protections for victims of revenge porn, for example, and the premier and attorney general have both been bullish on going after social media companies to mitigate online harms. Online safety advocate Brandon Laur pointed out that some youngsters are now turning their backs on technology like social media and AI out of frustration with advertising and cheap entertainment, but encouraged parents to put limits on all forms of screen time. “If you want to spend two hours on TV, you can’t now spend a few other hours playing video games—you have a set amount of time of leisure, and I think that’s a really good strategy,” said the White Hatter CEO. “I don’t want to put restrictions that substantially minimize good, positive, creative use, which I think is why parents can play a big role.”
