A former Facebook safety engineer and key witness in the US case against Meta has said the company’s settlement with dozens of states does not adequately address the risks its platforms pose to teenagers. Arturo Béjar argues that limiting screen time is insufficient if Facebook and Instagram’s underlying algorithms continue to promote addictive or harmful experiences, and says the agreement should not be treated as proof that the products are safe.

The settlement requires Meta to introduce stricter teen time limits, default non-algorithmic feeds, stronger parental controls, and restrictions on features such as likes and beauty filters, alongside night and school modes. States alleged Meta designed addictive products linked to problems including depression, disordered eating and suicide; Meta denied wrongdoing, said it already has extensive protections, and maintained that social media can benefit teenagers.