Meta agreed to pay about $18 billion to settle lawsuits from 52 US states, territories, and the District of Columbia alleging harm to children and teenagers on Facebook and Instagram, according to inc42.com. The settlement includes changes to platform features for users under 18 in participating US jurisdictions, with measures set to last up to 10 years.
The settlement requires Meta to implement a default two-hour daily usage limit on Facebook and Instagram for minors, restrict access between midnight and 6 AM, mute notifications during school hours, and enhance parental controls and age-assurance systems. Users can opt out of the usage limit only with parental permission. Additional restrictions include limiting cosmetic surgery and extreme makeup filters and hiding visible like counts by default. These rules will initially last five years but extend to 10 years if TikTok and YouTube adopt similar safeguards.
This agreement marks a significant regulatory intervention in social media platforms’ handling of teen safety, following growing concerns about the impact of social media on youth mental health. Unlike previous settlements, Meta has not admitted wrongdoing. The measures apply only within the US jurisdictions involved in the lawsuits, and Meta has not committed to applying the same restrictions globally, highlighting ongoing debates about platform responsibility and regulation.
The settlement’s terms will be in effect for at least five years, with some restrictions extending to a decade. Meta’s compliance with these measures will be monitored as part of the agreement, which represents one of the largest settlements related to social media and youth safety in US legal history.