What Meta Knows

More from the Guardian coverage:

While state attorneys general touted the settlement as a victory and Meta called on other platforms to institute similar policies, Béjar argues the settlement lacks independent oversight and does not necessarily make Meta’s platforms safer for young people.

Béjar says algorithmic design choices that make Facebook and Instagram addictive and harmful remain unchanged by the agreement and its time limits. He had hoped the agreement would have done more to address how social networks’ algorithms steer young users toward content, as well as instituted independent auditing and quantifiable obligations for reducing harm.

“This is not an all clear to say that the product is safe,” he said. “As with tobacco and opioids, the product continues to be harmful after the settlement. The work needs to continue in order to make sure that it’s safe enough for young people.”