Following Meta’s $17 billion settlement over claims of contributing to youth mental health issues and social media addiction, a company official suggested that federal legislation would be the ideal approach to protecting children online. The statement referenced the Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA, a bipartisan bill that has faced years of opposition from major technology companies, including Meta itself.
The comment sparked outrage among child safety advocates, particularly members of Parents for Safe Online Spaces, an organization founded by parents who lost children to suicide linked to online harm. Advocates view Meta’s sudden endorsement of legislative action as hypocritical, given the company’s substantial investment in lobbying against similar measures. The group contends that the settlement’s safeguards cannot replace comprehensive federal regulation and that Meta’s positioning amounts to public relations rather than genuine commitment to reform.
In response, ParentsSOS sent a direct letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg requesting that the company cease opposing KOSA and instead publicly support its passage. As of publication, Meta declined to comment beyond directing inquiries to previous statements about the settlement. Meanwhile, critics remain skeptical about whether the company will translate its stated support for regulation into concrete action, particularly given its history of resisting child safety legislation.
Originally reported by Mashable →
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