Meta’s new settlement in the US could encourage other countries to take stronger steps to protect children and teenagers from social media risks.

According to a Reuters report yesterday, Meta has agreed to pay up to $18 billion over 10 years to settle claims brought by nearly all US states. The states accused Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram in ways that could encourage children to become addicted to the platforms. Meta has denied wrongdoing.

Under the settlement, Meta will introduce new restrictions on Facebook and Instagram in the US. These include a default daily limit of two hours for users under 18, along with other measures aimed at protecting teenagers.

The deal is being closely watched by countries including Australia, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines, which are also looking at ways to make social media safer for young users.

Australia introduced a minimum age of 16 for social media in December last year. However, enforcement has been difficult. Studies, including data from Australia’s internet regulator, found that about 80 percent of minors were still using social media months after the ban came into effect.

South Korea has said some of Meta’s safety measures, including changes to features that encourage excessive use, should be applied to young users worldwide.

European regulators have also been pressing Meta to address concerns over addictive features, age verification and the protection of children on its platforms.

In Asia, countries including India, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea and the Philippines are also seeking tighter oversight of social media and stronger protections for children.

The developments could lead to more legal action and stricter rules for social media companies as governments around the world increase their focus on protecting young users online.