ICYMI: Attorneys General, Physicians, Educators, Think Tanks & More Call On Platforms To Follow Landmark Reforms

WASHINGTON, D.C.  –  In case you missed it, the states and Meta agreed to a major step forward to equip families, schools and communities with the tools young people need to thrive both on and offline. Enhanced age assurance measures, screentime limits and other tools designed to empower parents are important solutions within a broader, comprehensive approach to addressing the youth wellbeing challenge. Read what attorneys general and leaders from across the country had to say about the agreement, including their calls on other companies to examine these solutions and adopt similar measures.

What They Are Saying

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes: “YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, and other tech companies should immediately follow Meta’s lead and adopt these stringent protections for their young users.” (Arizona Gov, 8/26/26)

California Attorney General Rob Bonta: “Mostly what needs to be done is getting similar protections across the industry with TikTok, with YouTube, with Snap. Meta is a major player and this is an incredible result, but there’s others that need to follow suit and again we’re happy to talk in the boardroom to get to those results or we can see folks in the courtroom as well.” (LiveNow from FOX, X, 8/26/26)

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong: “This settlement charts a new course for online safety, enforcing sweeping reforms to fundamentally alter the experience for kids on Instagram and Facebook. Over the next year, and in some instances much sooner, Meta must deploy robust age verification measures, critical caps on time online, parental options to turn off algorithmic feeds and auto-play functions, and content moderation, among other critical reforms. We will aggressively monitor this rollout and will not hesitate to return to court to protect the safety of our kids online. To TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat – our expectations are clear. You’re next.” (The Office Of The Attorney General William Tong, 8/26/26)

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr: “‘For years, we pushed major social media platforms to implement critical safeguards that protect our kids online, and that’s exactly what this outcome helps to accomplish,’ said Carr. ‘This is a landmark agreement that sets the standard for future cases, and while Meta is the first to come to the table, they shouldn’t be the last.’” (Georgia Office Of The Attorney General, 8/26/26)

Missouri Attorney General Catherine L. Hanaway: “Meta is rolling out historic safety reforms on Facebook and Instagram nationwide… We advise that TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, and others follow suit. We’re coming for any platform that puts profit over our kids’ safety.” (X, 8/26/26) 

Washington, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb: “This is a monumental public health victory for young people in DC and across the country, and the safety features Meta is required to install will fundamentally and immediately change how young people use Instagram and Facebook … this successful, coordinated multistate litigation has resulted in Meta being the first platform to come to the table and agree to such comprehensive reforms. It will not be the last.” (District Of Columbia Office Of The Attorney General, 8/26/26)

West Virginia Attorney General McCuskey: “States plan to push TikTok and YouTube to adopt the same teen-safety framework Meta has now agreed to in a ‘very aggressive’ way, says West Virginia AG McCuskey, calling the Meta settlement a ‘blueprint’ for taking on other social media companies.” (Bloomberg TV Via X, 8/26/26)

South Carolina Education Superintendent Ellen Weaver: “I applaud @AGAlanWilson and the bipartisan coalition of attorneys general for securing the landmark, multi-billion-dollar settlement with Meta – and, more importantly, meaningful new protections that put children and parents first. We know the very real harm addictive social media can do to our children’s mental health, focus, and well-being. In South Carolina, we’ve led the way with phone-free schools because kids deserve the freedom to learn, grow, and build real relationships without the constant pull of a screen. Now YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, X, and every other platform should follow Meta’s lead. These protections should be the industry standard. Our kids deserve nothing less.” (X, 8/26/26)

Media Literacy Now CEO Kyra Brissette: “Young people have been clear about what they need: the skills to navigate the digital world with confidence. This settlement’s investment in digital wellness and media literacy responds directly to that call. Safer product design and strong media literacy education go hand in hand – neither is sufficient alone. Massachusetts now has a real opportunity to make media literacy a permanent part of every students’ education and we’re eager to help.” (Instagram, 8/26/26)

Harbor-University Of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center Physician & Parent Dr. Sion Roy: “As a parent, the settlement secured by @AGRobBonta & 51 other AGs that includes both daily and overnight limits to teen accounts is a huge first step. Yet this is only applies to 2 apps. Every platform should adopt these protections @tiktok @YouTube.” (X, 8/26/26)

Tech Leader, Entrepreneur & Parent Chamath Palihapitiya: [In response to Meta Newsroom tweet] “This is AWESOME!! More of this…now we need @tiktok_us @YouTube” (X, 8/26/26)

Political Commentator & Columnist Josh Hammer: “There is a lot to love in this settlement. Meta will be making real, meaningful changes. Now it’s time for Google/YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat to follow suit – and for Congress to finally pass the App Store Accountability Act. Only industry-wide solutions will prove durable.” (X, 8/26/26)

Visiting Heritage Foundation Fellow Robby Starbuck: “I have one ask: Demand that @tiktok_us, @YouTube and @Snapchat adopt similar policies … Meta is at least trying to enact meaningful, industry wide change. It’s my hope that TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube will follow their lead … I genuinely think these moves will get more teens outside, more teens doing normal teenager things, less teens with an unhealthy body image, less teens in contact with predators online and better mental health for teen users. If TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube decline to make these changes, they should explain why they won’t. I think the potential answers to that would be telling.” (X, 8/26/26)

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