Meta’s agreement to pay up to US$18 billion to settle lawsuits over the alleged harm caused by Facebook and Instagram to children and teenagers has renewed debate over how much responsibility technology companies should bear for social media addiction.
The landmark settlement, reached with dozens of US states and territories in the United States, follows allegations that Meta deliberately designed its platforms to keep young users engaged and failed to adequately protect them from harmful content.
Meta has not admitted wrongdoing, but under the settlement it has agreed to introduce stronger protections for users under 18, including a default two-hour daily usage limit, restrictions on overnight access, reduced notifications during school hours and stronger age-verification measures.
Commenting on the case, technology expert Glenn Mwansa said Meta, as the owner and provider of the platforms, cannot completely distance itself from the consequences of what happens on its systems.
“Responsibility is given to the owner of the platform,” Mwansa said.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Zambian Business Times-ZBT Mwansa argued that although users make their own choices, the companies operating social media platforms create the environment in which those choices are made and therefore have a responsibility to ensure that the platforms are not exposing vulnerable users to harmful experiences.
The size of the settlement is significant, although it needs to be viewed against Meta’s enormous financial position.
The company reported more than US$200 billion in revenue in 2025, meaning that the potential US$18 billion settlement represents only a fraction of its annual business.
Mwansa, however, said responsibility should not rest entirely with Meta, particularly when it comes to children.
He said parents also have an important role to play because they are often the ones providing children with smartphones, tablets and other devices used to access social media.
“Exposure is one thing. The parents also have got a role to play,” he said.
Mwansa said parents should therefore take an active interest in what their children are watching and doing online, although he acknowledged that monitoring children can be difficult because they can encounter content through friends, recommendations and other users.
He also raised concerns about the growing role of artificial intelligence, saying advances in technology are making it possible for digital platforms to increasingly understand users’ interests and behaviour and tailor content towards them.
According to Mwansa, this can create a cycle in which users are repeatedly exposed to content that keeps them engaged for longer periods.
For children and teenagers, he said, the problem can be more serious because they are still going through stages of curiosity and discovery and may not have the maturity to understand the consequences of what they encounter online.
Mwansa said this is why the debate should not simply focus on whether Meta should pay money, but also on how technology companies, parents, regulators and users can share responsibility for creating a safer digital environment.
He questioned whether outright censorship would be an effective solution, arguing that social media has both positive and negative uses.
While some people use platforms to insult others, spread misinformation or share harmful material, others use them to advertise businesses, sell products, share information and promote technology.
“Social media needs to be aligned. I think we misuse it too much,” Mwansa said.
He suggested that greater separation between entertainment and commercial activities could help improve the way people use digital platforms, including the possibility of more specialised platforms for e-commerce and business.
Mwansa said the challenge is that social media has become an important source of information and business opportunities, while the competition for views, followers and engagement can also encourage the spread of sensational or harmful content.
