Teenagers using Instagram and Facebook will soon face strict limits on late-night scrolling, daily screen time, and targeted content recommendations. Following a nationwide child safety settlement with attorneys general across 51 US states and territories, Meta has agreed to roll out sweeping changes to protect young users from addictive platform features.
Under the ten-year agreement, Meta must enforce several new default protections for users aged 13 to 17. Among the most notable features is a two-hour cumulative daily time limit across both Instagram and Facebook, which can only be disabled by a parent. To curb endless consumption, the platforms will also block teens from viewing feeds, stories, reels, or posting between midnight and 6:00 AM. Additionally, push notifications will be muted during school hours from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, except for direct messages and security alerts.
To combat passive screen use, Meta will display prompts every 15 minutes during continuous scrolling, encouraging users to take a break or adjust their recommendation algorithm. Within four months, teenagers will also gain access to an easily accessible feed option that is not personalized by Meta's recommendation engine. Other visual features include hiding like counts on teen posts by default, allowing users to disable automatic video playback, and restricting "extreme makeup" filters that alter facial features beyond standard cosmetics.
The settlement addresses allegations that Meta engineered its platforms to maximize engagement among children while failing to address safety warnings. Internal documents and testimony from former Instagram engineer Arturo Bejar revealed that concerns regarding child safety had frequently gone unaddressed by executives. To ensure compliance, Meta will undergo age verification audits by independent reviewers to ensure underage children are properly identified or removed.
While Meta could pay up to $18 billion in financial settlements over the next decade, the tech giant has stated that part of the payment is contingent on rival platforms like TikTok and YouTube introducing similar teen protections. Experts suggest these regulatory measures in the US may soon influence global social media standards, altering how young people interact with digital platforms worldwide.