Meta’s VP and Head of Global Safety, Antigone Davis, discussed the tech giant’s efforts to protect minors online in a recent interview. She highlighted the importance of age verification at the app store level as a shared priority in both the European Union and the United States. Davis suggested extending this system to all apps to create a safer ecosystem for teens, preventing them from migrating to less protected platforms. Currently, Meta relies on self-assessment for age verification, but is supportive of a draft child safety bill in Louisiana proposing a similar measure.
In addition to age verification, Meta has introduced new features such as “teen accounts” to help parents monitor and control their child’s usage on the platform. Notifications are turned off in the evening to encourage teens to take a break and get a good night’s rest. The platform also has safeguards in place to protect minors from sensitive content, such as political material and diet ads. Following a policy change that raised concerns about the classification of homosexuality as a “mental illness,” Davis assured that preventing the bullying of teens remains a priority for the company.
Davis expressed support for the latest draft regulation aimed at preventing the spread of child sexual abuse material. The proposal had faced challenges in the Council of the EU, with member states debating the necessity of scanning messages, including encrypted communications, to combat child abuse crimes. The Polish presidency of the Council proposed that responsibility for scanning should rest with social media platforms, rather than blanket monitoring by authorities. Davis welcomed this new approach, emphasizing the need for consistent protections across the EU to safeguard young people online.
Meta’s efforts to protect minors extend beyond age verification and content filtering, with a focus on preventing harm from occurring in the first place. Davis encouraged users to report harmful content so that action could be taken. The company is supportive of a harmonized EU digital rule that would provide consistent protections for young people online. The Commission has recognized the impact of social media on the well-being of children and young people, with plans to lead an inquiry on this issue. Meta continues to prioritize the safety and well-being of minors on its platform, implementing measures to protect them from sensitive content and harmful behavior.
