Key facts
- Meta agreed to implement daily time limits, a "Night Mode," and non-algorithmic feed options for users under 18 on Instagram and Facebook.
- The changes are part of an $18 billion settlement with 29 U.S. states concerning children's safety on its platforms.
- The settlement includes a two-hour daily time limit, cumulative across Facebook and Instagram, which can only be disabled with parental permission.
- A default "Night Mode" will block access between midnight and 6 a.m., and notifications will be muted during school hours.
- Meta is also hiding like and reaction counts by default for underage users and blocking extreme makeup filters.
Meta has agreed to implement significant changes to restrict minors' access to its platforms, Instagram and Facebook, as part of an $18 billion settlement with 29 U.S. states. The agreement aims to resolve claims regarding children's safety on its social media services.
The new measures, pending judicial approval, will automatically apply to users under 18 in participating states and must remain in place for 10 years. Key changes include a cumulative daily two-hour time limit for teenagers, which can only be bypassed with parental consent. Once the limit is reached, users will be locked out of both apps.
Underage users will also have the option to set a non-algorithmic, chronological feed as their default experience, moving away from personalized recommendation systems. A default "Night Mode" will block access to the platforms between midnight and 6 a.m., and notifications will be muted during school hours, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with exceptions for direct messages and security alerts.
Further restrictions include prompts after every 15 minutes of continuous usage and after 60 minutes of total daily usage. Meta will also block extreme makeup filters for underage users and hide like and reaction counts by default. The company is enhancing its technology to better identify users aged 13 to 17, even if they provide an adult birth date.
Meta has publicly urged TikTok and YouTube to adopt similar industry-wide commitments, including daily time limits and restricted access during nighttime and school hours. Notably, 30% of Meta's settlement, approximately $5.3 billion, is contingent on YouTube and TikTok implementing these same limitations.