Non-algorithmic feed may curb social media harms among kids, adults
Conversations and issues are heating up over child safety protection in regard to the use of social media platforms and the danger it brings to young minds. Today’s world is already packed with TikTok videos and iPad kids at dinner. College students just sift through articles on their laptops when they need some research. Education and information are being reshaped by artificial intelligence or AI.
In his column for Inquirer.Net, Chief of AI Ethics PH Carljoe Javier, stated that right now, everyone seems to be on social media, but so few people actually say they enjoy it or have fun being there. “They have to because everyone is there, they don’t want to miss certain things, but at the same time, we finish scrolling and it makes us feel awful,” he said.
Javier noted: “On August 26, 2026, Meta settled a case that was filed by a coalition of attorneys general in the US for “designing and implementing features that it knew to be harmful to children and teens in order to maximize their time on its social media platforms.” This comes on the heels of previous rulings holding Meta (and Google) accountable in cases in California and New Mexico.”
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Reference: Navigating the Scanning Pathway to Digital Transformation
He explained: “In this specific settlement, Meta will pay at least $12.1 billion, spread across the states that filed cases, with that amount rising to as much as $17.1 billion if competitors like TikTok and YouTube reach similar settlements of their own.”
Javier further said: “Along with the payments, there are a number of features that they are expected to introduce as part of the settlement:
>Age verification
>Two-hour daily limit for users under 18, except for messaging
>Blocks for under-18 between midnight and 6 a.m.
>Blocking or limiting push notifications for minors at night and during school hours
>Letting parents set non-algorithmic feeds as part of parental supervision features.”
The AI Ethics chief said: “There are so many conversations about age limits and age bans. We are talking not just about young people and their self-esteem, self-worth, and harms related to their development. Even adults can fall victim to the same harmful trends.”
“While the rulings and settlements aim to protect children, the impact of how social media is built in a harmful way can affect everyone, not just the young. The product design decisions that include algorithmic feeds and the dopamine-hit nature of infinite scrolls make it a dangerous place,” he added.
Javier concluded: “For the longest time, Meta and other platforms have claimed that people’s feeds are decided by the algorithm. You see more of what you want to see. And they don’t have control of the algorithm, it just learns what you want and gives you more.”
“But we know better now. Rage-bait and divisive content lead to higher engagement, and when given a choice, to curb this and other harms, Meta chose harms and engagement over user well-being. So while there are provisions for the settlement, I want to focus on the option to switch to a chronological and non-algorithmic feed,” he added.
Reference: Bring back the non-algorithmic feed!
