Instagram limits child usage time in US after $18 billion settlement

Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has agreed to pay a hefty $18 billion fine to settle a lawsuit accusing its platforms of addicting and psychologically harming children and adolescents. The settlement, reached out of court, comes after a broad coalition of Republican and Democratic state attorneys general filed a lawsuit in California.

The social media giant will implement a series of new child protection measures for the first time. These include a daily usage limit of two hours for minors, which can only be disabled by parents. Additionally, children will receive prompts every 30 minutes to encourage more mindful social media use. A significant measure is the automatic overnight blocking of Instagram and Facebook access for users under 18, from midnight to 6 a.m.

Meta also pledged to enhance protections against harmful content on Instagram. This settlement resolves claims with 49 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Florida remains the sole state pursuing legal action against Meta, with its Attorney General criticizing the fine as an "insult" given Meta's substantial profits. Meta reported a net profit of nearly $16 billion in the second quarter of 2026.