Meta has agreed to a settlement in a lawsuit regarding teen social media use, committing to platform changes and $18 billion in funding for child safety programs.
Key facts
- •Meta will enforce a two-hour daily usage limit for users under 18, which parents can override.
- •Teen accounts will be blocked from accessing Meta apps between midnight and 6 a.m.
- •Push notifications will be silenced during school hours from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and overnight from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- •Filters mimicking cosmetic surgery or extreme makeup will be unavailable to teen accounts.
- •70% of the $18 billion settlement will be distributed to states over a 10-year period.
Meta has reached a settlement in a lawsuit brought by a bipartisan coalition of U.S. attorneys general alleging the company designed its platforms to be addictive to minors and misled the public on safety. The agreement includes significant changes to Facebook and Instagram for users under 18 and an $18 billion financial commitment. Meta maintains it did nothing wrong but is settling to avoid further legal proceedings.
By the numbers
New Platform Restrictions for Teens
Meta is implementing several default settings for users under 18, including a two-hour daily time limit and a complete block on app access between midnight and 6 a.m. Push notifications will be silenced during school hours and overnight, and teens will receive prompts to encourage intentional use after 15 minutes of continuous screen time. Additionally, Meta is removing filters that mimic cosmetic surgery and hiding like counts by default.
Feed Customization and Content Standards
Teen accounts will now have the option to use a non-algorithmic feed that is not personalized by recommendation systems. Parents can require this setting for their children. Meta is also maintaining existing content standards that restrict teens from interacting with age-inappropriate accounts and continues to keep teen accounts private by default to prevent contact from suspicious adults.
Settlement Funding and Commitments
The $18 billion settlement will fund programs focused on online safety and youth mental health. Participating states will receive 70% of the funds over 10 years. The remaining 30%, totaling over $5 billion, is contingent upon YouTube and TikTok implementing similar child safety measures and financial commitments. Most platform changes are required to remain in place for 10 years, with time limit and night mode settings currently set for a five-year commitment.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by ZDNET AI.
