PENSACOLA, Fla. — Social media access for teens on Meta will soon look different. Following a landmark settlement, Meta has agreed to pay $18 billion over a 10-year span.
Plus, they’re going to put a two-hour time limit on young users. Parents would be required to approve an increase in access going forward.
This comes at a time where teens are getting involved in dangerous trends.
Just this last weekend, a 12-year-old Okaloosa County teen was arrested and charged with a felony after participating in a trend, threatening to shoot up local schools.
Congressman Jimmy Patronis says social media is just like a drug addiction for our youth.
“Their product is a digital fentanyl, and it is preying on our kids, and our kids do not have the ability to break the addiction,” Patronis said.
Patronis spoke out on Meta’s settlement Tuesday, saying it doesn’t go far enough to address the damage social media sites are doing to kids.
He says its addicting nature is full of push notifications and personalized feeds. He also suggested content is addicting, and kids don’t have the capacity to unplug.
While Patronis does appreciate the limited time and Meta’s decision to remove the display number of likes or reactions on a post, he wants to take it a step further and have other platforms, like Snapchat and TikTok held responsible, too.
“If the social media companies don’t grow up and realize the damage that they’re doing to our kids, then unfortunately, Congress has to act,” said Patronis. “Our states have to act. But unfortunately, they’re deep pocketed. They hire lots of attorneys. They play in areas of gray with Section 230.”
“They fight with the language of the constitution with freedom of speech,” he said. “But ultimately, it’s all about their bottom line and them profiting off of our kids. They are the product.”
To address every social media platform, Patronis has filed the “Protect Act,” that would repeal Section 230 of the Communications Act.
That would take away the federal protections social media platforms have that gives them immunity from the posts that are generated by users on the platforms, even if the posts are harmful in nature.
Patronis says he’s seeking co-sponsors right now, and there are several steps required before its considered on the House floor.
Florida and New Mexico are the only two states not included in the settlement.
Attorney General James Uthmeier called the settlement a slap on the wrist, adding he would see Meta in court.
WEAR News spoke to local attorneys with Levin Papantonio who are also working a case against big tech. You’ll hear from them at 10 p.m.
