U.S. Senator Katie Britt says social media restrictions keeping children under 16 off major platforms deserve serious consideration in the United States as she pushes for broader action to protect children online.
During an appearance on Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal,” Britt pointed to Australia, where major social media platforms are now required to take reasonable steps to prevent children under 16 from maintaining accounts.
I’m glad to see progress, but Meta didn’t make these changes voluntarily. It took attorneys general across the country demanding accountability to achieve this landmark settlement.
This is just a first step. Every platform has a responsibility to put the safety of our children… pic.twitter.com/qo5L7v7c6Q
— Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) August 31, 2026
“For me, though, I think that this is a step I want to see taken,” Britt said. “I’ve been digging into that to see, how do we make this work?”
Australia’s restrictions took effect in December and cover platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X and YouTube. The requirements fall on the platforms rather than children or their parents.
Britt pointed to worsening mental health indicators among younger Americans as part of her rationale for pursuing additional protections.
Her comments followed a landmark settlement between Meta and Alabama and dozens of other jurisdictions over allegations involving the effects of Instagram and Facebook on children.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced last week that Meta will pay Alabama more than $117 million as part of a $17.1 billion nationwide settlement. The agreement also requires new protections including daily usage limits, nighttime blocks, age-verification measures and stronger parental controls.
Britt welcomed those changes but argued Meta should not receive credit for adopting them only after legal action from attorneys general around the country.
“I am obviously thrilled to see progress be made,” Britt said. “But let it not be lost on any of this that they didn’t do any of this voluntarily.”
“I appreciate many of the safeguards that were put in place. I wish they had done them themselves. But I think it’s just the beginning. I think more needs to be done.”
Britt emphasized that the settlement applies only to Meta’s platforms while children continue using YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok and others.
“This is a great first step, but it’s something I want to see across the board, and I want to see more of,” she said.
Britt said the Meta settlement should be viewed as the beginning of a broader effort rather than the end of the issue.
“I hope that others will come to the table,” she said. “But I think that we have to do more.”
Sawyer Knowles is a state and political reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at [email protected].
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