Meta agrees to major restrictions on teen social media use after settlement

Tech giant Meta has agreed to substantial changes affecting its Facebook and Instagram platforms for teenage users as part of a settlement with 29 U.S. states. The agreement, which concludes a high-profile trial in Oakland, California, involves Meta paying up to $18 billion and implementing a series of new safety measures.

The lawsuit accused Meta of intentionally designing its social media platforms to be addictive for children and adolescents, even while aware of the potential negative consequences. These alleged harms include increased anxiety, depression, and suicidal behavior among young users. While Meta did not admit fault or responsibility in the settlement, the agreement marks a significant shift in how the company will operate its key social networking features in the U.S.

Key changes for teen users will include a default two-hour daily usage limit for Facebook and Instagram, excluding direct messages. The company will also implement a nighttime restriction, muting notifications between midnight and 6 a.m. Additionally, notifications will be silenced during school hours, specifically between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. on school days. Other measures involve hiding "like" counts on posts by teenagers and restricting certain filters related to plastic surgery and appearance modification.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta hailed the settlement as a major victory for child protection, stating that the new restrictions will significantly reduce the risk of harm posed by social media. Many of these changes are expected to be implemented as default settings or opt-in options for teenagers within six months. Meta will also enhance its methods for identifying child and teen users over the next year. The financial value of the settlement is substantial, though it awaits court approval and is reportedly lower than some earlier projections.

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The settlement is a major victory for child protection. The new restrictions will significantly reduce the risk of harm that social networks can cause to children.