UNITED STATES — Major changes are coming to Instagram and Facebook for younger users after parent company Meta reached a landmark settlement with nearly all U.S. states over allegations that its social media platforms were designed in ways that could harm or addict children and teenagers. Meta denies wrongdoing. (Reuters)
Under the agreement, Meta could pay up to $18 billion over the next decade while introducing significant new protections for teenage users. The settlement still requires court approval before taking effect. (Reuters)
One of the biggest changes involves daily screen time. Teen accounts will generally be limited to two hours of Instagram and Facebook use per day, with parental involvement required to change certain restrictions. Some terms could become even stricter if other major social media platforms adopt comparable protections. (The Wall Street Journal)
Meta will also introduce a nighttime restriction from midnight until 6 a.m., preventing teens from using the apps during those hours under the default protections. A school-focused mode will also limit notifications during the school day. (The Wall Street Journal)
Other changes are aimed at reducing social pressure and exposure to potentially harmful content. Teen accounts will receive stronger privacy protections, restrictions on interactions with suspicious adults and additional limits on certain content. Like and reaction counts will also be hidden under the new safeguards. (The Verge)
The agreement also calls for stronger age-verification measures. Meta is expected to use technology and other verification methods to better identify underage users and make it more difficult for children younger than 13 to create accounts by entering a false birth date. (AP News)
The settlement follows years of lawsuits and growing scrutiny over how social media affects young people. States have accused Meta of using features designed to keep children engaged for long periods while failing to adequately address potential risks. Meta has disputed allegations that it intentionally harms young users and has pointed to safety features it has introduced over the years. (Reuters)
The agreement is expected to apply across most of the United States for at least 10 years, although some states have separate legal proceedings or agreements. (The Verge)
If approved, the settlement could represent one of the biggest shifts yet in how American teenagers experience social media, putting stricter limits on when, how long and under what settings young people can use Instagram and Facebook.
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