For years, concerns about the impact of social media on children and teens has largely focused on the kinds of content they are exposed to. But a recent landmark settlement with Meta signals an important shift towards making these platforms accountable for how they are designed.In this episode, Janet Morrison speaks with internet and social media lawyer Maanit Zemel about Meta’s $17 billion settlement with several U.S. states over allegations that Facebook and Instagram were deliberately designed to be addictive and harmful to young people.They explore why Meta may have chosen to settle, how lawyers have moved from challenging individual content to challenging the underlying design and algorithms of social media platforms, and what new protections for young users could emerge as a result.The conversation also turns to Canada, including lawsuits brought by Ontario school boards, the proposed Safe Social Media Act, and why meaningful regulation will require both strong legislation and real consequences for platforms that fail to protect users.This timely discussion raises a larger question: If social media platforms have the power to shape children’s attention, relationships and wellbeing, what responsibility should they bear for creating safer digital environments?

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