My wife and I work in youth ministry here in Eugene, both with high schoolers in our community and on the University of Oregon campus. We see firsthand how important genuine connection, belonging and positive relationships are to their wellbeing. We also see how social media can undermine those things.

Young people face bullying, relentless social comparison, addictive algorithms and exposure to dangerous individuals online. These platforms can consume hours that would otherwise be spent sleeping, studying, building friendships, engaging in their faith or simply enjoying life. And these challenges don’t disappear when teenagers graduate from high school. They follow young people into college, where finding community and developing healthy habits are especially important.

For too long, Big Tech has profited from keeping young people glued to their screens while families, educators and community leaders deal with the consequences.

That’s why Oregon’s recent settlement with Meta is such an important step forward. It requires Facebook and Instagram to implement meaningful protections for young users, including daily time limits, nighttime restrictions, muted notifications during school hours, stronger age verification and safeguards against harmful content.

But there is a significant gap. Those protections do not extend to YouTube, TikTok or Snapchat, platforms where young people spend enormous amounts of time. Different safety standards across these platforms leave children vulnerable and undermine the progress Oregon has made.

Attorney General Dan Rayfield deserves credit for helping secure this settlement. Now he should build on that success by pressing other major platforms to adopt comparable, enforceable protections.

The settlement also presents an opportunity to invest in youth well-being. Oregon should direct the funds toward programs that help young people develop healthy relationships, access support and connect with their communities. Here in Eugene, we know the difference that mentorship, positive activities and trusted adults can make.

While Congress works toward stronger federal protections, Oregon should continue leading. Protecting young people online and strengthening the real-world relationships that help them thrive must go hand in hand.

Nicolas Castronovo
Eugene