Meta Expands Teen Safety Globally with New Measures

Meta Platforms Inc. has announced an expansion of its safety measures for teen users across its Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger apps, prohibiting users under 16 from live streaming without parental consent. These changes, aimed at protecting young users from inappropriate content and unwanted contact, include requiring parental approval to view or send images containing suspected nudity in direct messages. The new protections are part of the broader Teen Accounts initiative, which automatically applies strict privacy settings and contact limitations. The updates are initially rolling out in the U.S., UK, Australia, and Canada, with a global rollout to follow. These steps come amidst growing criticism and regulatory pressure over the impact of social media on young people's mental health and privacy. Despite the efforts, concerns remain about the effectiveness of the measures, as investigations have found ongoing issues with inappropriate content recommendations to teens.