Mark Zuckerberg is facing renewed pressure to step aside from Meta after the company agreed to a settlement of up to $18 billion following accusations that its platforms harmed children. The deal could reshape how social media companies operate, but critics argue it does not address the deeper question of how Meta’s products are designed — or whether its leadership can be trusted to put user safety ahead of growth and profit. Billions in penalties have failed to change the equation The latest settlement follows years of scrutiny over Facebook and Instagram, from privacy failures and security breaches to misinformation, hate speech and concerns about the impact of social media on young people. Critics say Zuckerberg has remained the constant figure through repeated controversies. They argue that financial penalties have done little to change the underlying incentives because the costs are ultimately absorbed by a company whose founder remains extraordinarily wealthy and powerful. The settlement introduces restrictions on teenage accounts, including limits on daily use, overnight access and notifications during school hours. Accounts will also be linked to parents amid stronger age-verification measures — raising fresh questions about privacy and enforcement. Whistleblowers say warnings went unheard The pressure intensified after whistleblower Arturo Béjar told lawmakers: “You just cannot trust Mark Zuckerberg with kids.” Béjar, a former Instagram safety executive, said he had repeatedly raised concerns after his teenage daughter experienced unwanted harassment on the platform. He also argued that Meta possessed extensive internal data showing how its design choices affected young users. His testimony echoed earlier revelations from whistleblower Frances Haugen, whose disclosures helped expose internal knowledge about Instagram’s effects on teenage users. The fight is now over who controls Meta’s future The central argument is no longer simply whether Meta should pay another settlement. Critics say the company needs a fundamental leadership change if it is to rebuild trust and put safety at the centre of product decisions. Zuckerberg retains enormous influence over Meta, while his personal fortune has continued to rise despite years of controversy. For those demanding change, the message is becoming increasingly direct: another fine may punish Meta, but only a change at the top can alter the direction of the company. It’s time for Mark Zuckerberg to resign from Meta
