Meta Agrees to Major Restrictions for Teen Users in Landmark Settlement

Meta has settled a lawsuit brought by state attorneys general, agreeing to pay up to $17 billion and implement sweeping safety measures for users under 18. The changes include two-hour daily usage limits, a block on access between midnight and 6 a.m., silenced notifications during school hours, and a ban on likes and cosmetic filters. Experts say many provisions align with research, but their success depends on Meta's compliance and the effectiveness of an independent auditor.

The settlement emerged just one week into trial, with the coalition of state attorneys general and the District of Columbia alleging that Facebook and Instagram harmed children. Beyond the financial penalty, Meta must implement age verification, though the specific mechanism remains undetermined. The agreement also requires an independent auditor to monitor compliance with the new provisions.

Experts note that several measures — including time limits, night mode, school mode, and algorithmic feed control — have long been recommended by researchers studying problematic teen usage patterns. Kris Perry of Children and Screens emphasizes the need for new baseline studies to measure how these changes affect youth behavior. Clinical psychologist Candice Feinberg welcomes the structure, comparing it to instructions that come with toys, and praises the non-algorithmic option as reminiscent of early social media.