Meta agrees to teen safety overhaul with time limits and feed changes

Meta has agreed to sweeping changes for teen users on Instagram and Facebook as part of a child safety settlement with 51 US states and territories. The changes include two-hour time limits, a non-personalized feed option, and other safeguards that must remain in place for at least 10 years. The settlement stems from a lawsuit alleging the platforms were designed to be addictive for children.

The settlement applies across most US states, though New Mexico, Florida, and Texas are excluded due to separate legal proceedings. The two-hour limit is cumulative across both Instagram and Facebook, and Meta must detect alternate accounts to prevent circumvention. Certain activities like messaging, long-form video viewing, and settings adjustments won't count toward the daily cap, which resets at midnight.

Meta must also implement age assurance systems to identify users under 13 for removal and those aged 13-17 for teen protections. New users receive teen protections by default until evaluated. An independent auditor will review the age verification system, and users can appeal minor status determinations. Parents can override the time limit and set non-personalized feeds as defaults for their children.