Meta (NASDAQ:META) said Tuesday it will limit the type of content that teenagers on Facebook and Instagram are able to see, as the company faces mounting claims that its products are addictive and harmful to the mental well-being of younger users.
In a blog post, the company once known as Facebook said the new protections are designed “to give teens more age-appropriate experiences on our apps.” The updates will default teenage users to the most restrictive settings, prevent those users from searching about certain topics and prompt them to update their Instagram privacy settings, the company said.
Meta expects to complete the update over the coming weeks, it said, keeping teens under age 18 from seeing “content that discusses struggles with self-harm and eating disorders, or that includes restricted goods or nudity,” including content shared by a person they follow.
The change comes after a bipartisan group of 42 attorneys general announced in October that they’re suing Meta, alleging that the company’s products are hurting teenagers and contributing to mental health problems, including body dysmorphia and eating disorders.
In November Senate subcommittee testimony, Meta whistleblower Arturo Bejar told lawmakers that the company was aware of the harms its products cause to young users but failed to take appropriate action to remedy the problems.
META shares neared the end of Tuesday’s session down 21 cents to $358.45.