Meta agrees to sweeping changes to restrict kids’ access to its apps as part of settlement with states
Meta has agreed to implement significant safety restrictions for minors on Facebook and Instagram as part of an $18 billion settlement with 29 U.S. states. New measures include a mandatory two-hour daily time limit, a 'Night Mode' content block, and the option for parents to disable algorithmic feeds.
Why it matters
This settlement represents a major regulatory shift in how social media giants manage child safety and platform addiction, setting a precedent for future oversight of digital platforms.
Under the terms of its $18 billion settlement to resolve claims brought by 29 U.S. states over children’s safety, Meta on Wednesday agreed to sweeping changes designed to restrict minors’ access to Instagram and Facebook. The changes include a daily time limit, a restrictive “Night Mode,” autoplay controls, and more.
The social media giant says the new protections will automatically apply to users under 18 on Instagram and Facebook in participating U.S. states and territories, pending judicial approval. The majority of these controls are required to remain in place for 10 years.
One of the most notable changes is that Meta plans to implement a daily two-hour time limit for teenagers on its platform. The limit can only be disabled with parental permission, and once the limit is reached, teens will be locked out of Facebook and Instagram.
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