Lawsuits against social platforms for failing to adequately protect underage users are becoming more and more common. TikTok has been constantly involved in these situations, although platforms like Instagram have also been in the spotlight of the authorities. Now, a consumer rights group in Brazil has sued Meta, TikTok, and Kwai on similar grounds.
Group sues Meta and TikTok in Brazil for lack of adequate protection for young users
Moderating young people’s use of social media has become a growing challenge for companies. Minors face multiple potentially dangerous and harmful situations. Studies have reflected things like addiction, mental problems, and even exposure to online predators. The lawsuit against both companies is based on the lack of clear warnings about these dangers.
The Collective Defense Institute is pushing the lawsuit against Meta and TikTok in Brazil. The group is seeking to have social platforms introduce clear and concise warnings about the dangers related to the use of their services. Currently, most social platforms do not offer such warnings upon registration, so this seems like a reasonable demand. The lawsuit also seeks damages totaling 3 billion reais (about $525.8 million).
“It is urgent that measures be adopted in order to change the way the algorithm works, the processing of data from users under 18, and the way in which teenagers aged 13 and over are supervised and their accounts created, in order to ensure a safer, healthier experience…as is already the case in developed countries,” said Lillian Salgado, a lawyer involved in the suit.
Meta and TikTok have implemented measures to protect young users
Both Meta and TikTok have been implementing measures to try to protect minors. For example, Instagram included mandatory privacy restrictions on accounts of users under 16. However, such privacy restrictions are not yet available in Brazil. TikTok, for its part, has integrated new features designed to protect minors. These features include screentime limits, family pairing, and others. TikTok also includes restrictions similar to those on Instagram’s accounts for those under 16.
“Young people to have safe and age-appropriate experiences on our apps, and we have been working on these issues for over a decade, developing more than 50 tools, resources, and features to support teens and their guardians,” Meta said in response to the accusations.
