With these guiding principles, we developed a model policy to increase youth protection against alcohol advertising.
Promote age-appropriate online substance use messages - it is an equity issue if youth are disproportionately being exposed to the harms of substance use messages.
Age Gating Policies: Automatically age gate all alcohol-related content for users below age 21.
Community Standards - Regulated Goods Policies: Assure that alcohol content posted by or promoting an alcohol retail store, website or brand, is limited to adults age 21 or older for U.S. audiences.
Increase transparency in efforts put into identifying inappropriate substance use promotion and addressing it.
Transparency Policies: There is a greater need for transparency of youth exposure to alcohol promotional content on the platform. Increase coverage and capability to search alcohol-related content in the ad library, and release a quarterly alcohol content-related transparency report.
Enforcement Policies: Develop a clear protocol for enforcement of alcohol-related content restrictions.
Create online spaces and platforms informed, consulted, and co-imagined by youth.
Meta and other social media companies have the potential to collaborate with youth to create a more youth-led platform where youth can safely engage.