Meta/Facebook in the news for child safety, scam ads, EU breaches, and antitrust/AI pivots. Born 2004 by Zuckerberg and Harvard roommates. #Facebook #Meta
A New York neighborhood faces tension after a resident is accused of deliberately covering a neighbor's car with snow during a blizzard. The incident, captured on video, has gone viral, highlighting ongoing neighbor disputes and issues of harassment amid severe winter conditions.
As of March 6, 2026, Indonesia has enacted a regulation banning children under 16 from having accounts on high-risk social media platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Roblox, and Bigo Live. The ban will be implemented gradually starting March 28, with penalties for non-compliant platforms. This makes Indonesia the first Southeast Asian country to impose such restrictions, following Australia's December 2025 ban.
Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, is being sued by New Mexico prosecutors for allegedly failing to disclose known risks of social media addiction and child exploitation. The trial examines internal research and Meta’s response to these issues, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifying about platform safety and corporate priorities.
As of March 13, 2026, Meta has delayed the launch of its new AI model, Avocado, to May after internal tests showed it underperformed compared to Google's latest Gemini 3.0. Meanwhile, Meta acquired Moltbook, a social platform for AI agents, integrating its founders into Meta's AI research division to advance AI agent technology.
The 2026 World Happiness Report reveals a significant decline in life satisfaction among under-25s in Western countries, especially in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, linked to heavy social media use. Finland remains the happiest nation for the ninth year, while Costa Rica rises to fourth place. The report highlights social media's harmful effects on youth mental health, particularly among teenage girls.
In late March and early April 2026, juries in New Mexico and California found Meta liable for harming children through addictive platform design and failure to protect against sexual exploitation. Meta was ordered to pay $375 million in New Mexico and $4.2 million in California, alongside Google’s $1.8 million penalty. These landmark rulings challenge legal protections like Section 230 and signal a shift toward greater accountability for social media companies.
On March 24, 2026, a New Mexico jury found Meta liable for violating state consumer protection laws by failing to protect children on its platforms, ordering $375 million in penalties. The verdict follows a six-week trial and an undercover investigation revealing Meta concealed risks of child exploitation. Meta plans to appeal; a second trial phase in May may impose further penalties and platform changes.
The UK government is considering banning or restricting addictive features like infinite scrolling and streaks on social media platforms, following a US court ruling against Meta and Google for causing social media addiction. The consultation involves teenagers testing app limits, with potential for new laws to protect young users.
Australia's new law requires 10 major social media platforms to block under-16s or face fines of up to AU$49.5 million. While platforms have deactivated 5 million accounts, concerns remain over compliance and effectiveness, with investigations ongoing into potential non-compliance by major companies like Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.
Australia's laws banning under-16s from major social media platforms are under scrutiny, with many children still online. Indonesia has also enforced age verification laws, accusing platforms like YouTube and Facebook of non-compliance. Both countries face challenges in enforcement and compliance from tech giants.
The UK government has been engaging social media companies to improve online safety for children. A consultation has received nearly 50,000 responses, with ongoing discussions about potential restrictions, including an Australia-style ban for under-16s. The government is considering measures to limit addictive features and AI chatbots, with decisions expected soon.
As of April 2026, multiple countries including the UK, Turkey, Australia, and others have passed or are considering laws to restrict social media access for children under 15 or 16. The UK government has committed to imposing age restrictions for under-16s following consultations, while Turkey has passed a law banning under-15s from social media accounts. Australia’s ban on under-16s began in December 2025, with other nations planning similar measures.
Australia has released draft legislation to create a financial incentive for Meta, Google, and TikTok to strike deals with local publishers for journalism. If deals are not reached, a 2.25% revenue levy will apply. Government says the measure aims to support a healthy democracy by ensuring compensation for news content, while platforms and critics call it a digital services tax that distorts the ad market.
New Mexico has pressed for a remedies phase to impose sweeping changes on Meta platforms, seeking a public nuisance finding and up to $3.7 billion in support for child-safety programs and enforcement. The phase follows a March verdict that Meta harmed children and ordered $375 million in damages.
Santa Clara County has filed a civil lawsuit against Meta, accusing the company of knowingly profiting from scam advertising and correlating billions in annual revenue to fraudulent ads. The suit cites internal documents and a March ruling about addictive design. Meta says it fights scams and removed millions of scam ads last year.