Meta to block teen app usage at night, impose two-hour daily limit

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has agreed to implement significant restrictions on teen users. The company will block minors from accessing its apps during nighttime hours and impose a default daily usage limit of two hours across its family of applications. These measures are a key component of a substantial $16.7 billion settlement reached with various US states.

The settlement addresses long-standing allegations that Meta deliberately designed its platforms to be addictive for young users. States accused the company of misleading the public regarding the potential risks associated with its services and of unlawfully collecting personal data from children under the age of 13. The new restrictions aim to mitigate these harms and comply with the terms of the agreement.

While the article does not detail the specific nighttime hours or the exact definition of "night," the two-hour daily cap is a concrete measure intended to curb excessive screen time. The settlement signifies a major legal and regulatory outcome for Meta, reflecting increased scrutiny over the impact of social media on young people's mental health and data privacy.