Social media company Meta says it will roll out restrictions for teenagers across Facebook and Messenger from today, but critics say they don't go far enough in curbing harmful content.
Meta's regional director of public policy, Mia Garlick, said teen accounts are automatically made private, with the ability of users to restrict who can message them, notifications are muted from 10pm, and harmful content is restricted.
Those over 16 can opt out of the measures, while under 16-year-olds need their parents' consent to opt out. There's also a feature where parents can choose to see who is messaging or to set daily time limits, and to block teens from using Instagram, Facebook and Messenger overnight.
"It's got a range of different features in them, so it has our highest level of protections from unwanted content, it has time management tools, and there's also restrictions on who can message someone."
Teen accounts already launched for Instagram earlier this year, and across Facebook and Messenger in the UK, US and Australia in April.
From December 10, Australia will ban children under 16 from accessing social media platforms, and the onus is on the tech companies to prevent access. The government here is also investigating a ban, and a parliamentary inquiry is underway on the issue.
Garlick said the protections are working, citing a figure that nine out of 10 active teen Instagram users are staying on the protected accounts.
"These protections are a good balance, and they are being responsive to the needs of these young people, in terms of how they want to experience these types of online spaces."
When asked specifically what content was being restricted for young people on the platforms, Garlick did not say.
"I think sometimes either friends or different accounts they follow might start sharing content which is on more sensitive topics and the design of these controls, is to make sure aren't unintentionally being exposed to that."
She said teenagers need to verify their age with ID or a video selfie if they try to set up new, adult accounts.
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including new social media safety measures for teens, Diddy’s back in court, and a mass robbery caught on camera. (Source: 1News)
'No data or evidence' limits are working
Anna Curzon, co-chair of the B416 group advocating a social media ban for under-16s, said teenagers can get around video selfies and set up their own adult accounts.
She said she hasn't seen evidence the protections are working.
"We have no data or evidence from Meta that these restrictions are working and are limiting the amount of harmful content. So in a deficit of information or a vacuum of data by these tech companies themselves who are saying hey we've changed things to make things better, well show us."
When asked in a media briefing for data on how many parents are opting to connect with their teenager's account on Instagram, Meta said it did not have publicly available data.
It was also asked whether there was any statistics on how many teenagers are able to circumvent age verification tools in setting up new accounts.
Curzon questioned why Meta was making these announcements in New Zealand now, when they have been in place in other countries for several months.
Kaylee Day, who's 15, has a teen account and said it's easy to circumvent some of the time restrictions on the app.
"If I've been on Instagram for an hour, it will tell me I've been on there for an hour and I should get off, but I always just ignore it."
Day said while not as much as on TikTok, she still sees some harmful bullying content on Instagram.
"I do see the type of stuff where people are just saying that they don't like specific things, like looking on people like 'oh they don't like jorts' or they don't like how people look.
"And a lot of the comments will agree with it, some people, there's a lot of people they will video someone, saying it's embarrassing and it's funny and it will become like a meme everywhere."
Day said she only uses Facebook Messenger for the occasional group chats, and thinks protections for more platforms is sensible, but need to go further in terms of the actual content online.
Media and communications lecturer at Victoria University, Alex Beattie, agreed.
He said Meta should reinstate its content moderation and fact-checking team to effectively reduce harmful content.
"These functions that are nudges and increased privacy settings are unfortunately largely cosmetic, they don't get to the heart of the problem, which is a business model which is measured on engagement and wants people to keep scrolling on viral content, which is particularly harmful content."
Beattie said he thought Meta was "nervous" about a potential proposed ban in New Zealand, and were making these announcements to "future-proof" their business.
"Facebook is nervous that we are entering the next stage of the tech-lash, the popular backlash against technology platforms, regardless of whether these bans pass, they signal more and more people particularly parents are concerned about how appropriate social media is for young people.
"Australia is doing this, New Zealand might be doing this - what other countries are next? And so this is a response by the platform to show to parents in particular that they are taking this serious, and young people can use Facebook safely."
When asked whether Meta had been meeting with government ministers over the social media ban, Garlick said yes, but did not elaborate on who, saying they were talking with a range of stakeholders.
Education Minister Erica Stanford, who is leading the government's work on the social media ban, said she is considering all the options to reduce the harms that children face online.
"It's good to see companies taking action to help protect our young people more, but it just further reinforces the impact that digital platforms and social media can have on our young people.
"We are absolutely intending to continue our work to look at options to help protect children and teens."
She said she would be bringing proposals forward to Cabinet soon as next steps.
"Online safety is a complex, global issue and one we take very seriously. We're in a position to see what is working well overseas, including what Australia is doing."
By Ellen O'Dwyer of rnz.co.nz
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