The proposal is aimed in particular at the current practice under which many young users’ accounts are public by default, meaning their activity, photos, and personal information can be visible to a broad audience without any additional consent. Senators argue that automatic privacy settings would discourage contact from strangers and provide stronger protection for minors’ data, by preventing public access to their content unless they knowingly choose otherwise.
The amendment is sponsored by lawmakers from both major political parties, who point to what they describe as “growing challenges related to children’s online safety,” including exposure to inappropriate content and interactions with unknown adults. In their view, default privacy could serve as a first line of defense on platforms that collect vast amounts of personal data from young users.
Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, has previously introduced certain restrictions for teen accounts, such as limiting public profile recommendations and adding parental control tools. Critics, however, argue that these measures are insufficient given the continued high level of exposure of minors’ content on the platforms.
Opponents of the proposal within the technology industry argue that making accounts private by default could limit freedom of expression and negatively affect how young people build their online identities. Supporters of the legislation respond that safety and data protection should take priority over any potential inconvenience resulting from reduced visibility of content.
If adopted, the amendment would require users under 18 to explicitly opt in to making their accounts public — and such a change would require the consent of a parent or legal guardian. The proposal also предусматривает stronger auditing and reporting requirements for social media platforms with regard to their privacy practices, in order to enable oversight of compliance with the new rules.
The new legislative initiative in the United States fits into a broader global trend toward stricter oversight of privacy practices on social media platforms, particularly where minors are concerned, and adds further tension between regulators and major technology companies whose business models depend heavily on maximizing user engagement.