Meta has agreed to pay approximately $18 billion to settle lawsuits in the US alleging that Facebook and Instagram harmed minors. The settlement requires Meta to introduce several child safety measures, including a two-hour daily usage limit for users under 18, restricted access between midnight and 6 AM, and changes to notifications and content visibility on its platforms, according to inc42.com.
The settlement mandates Meta to modify product design features such as limiting extreme makeup filters, hiding visible like counts, and offering a non-algorithmic feed option for minors. These changes aim to reduce harm and improve online safety for children using Facebook and Instagram in the US. However, the agreement does not impose these requirements on Meta’s international markets, including India, which is the company’s largest user base outside the US, inc42.com reports.
This development highlights a gap in child safety protections on Meta’s platforms globally. Legal and policy experts argue that the safeguards introduced in the US should be extended to minors in other countries, including India. They emphasize the need for age-appropriate defaults, stronger age verification, and regulated features for minor accounts worldwide, especially as local regulators often rely on content takedowns rather than enforcing product design changes, inc42.com states.
Meta’s settlement and the resulting product changes will apply only to its US operations, with no current legal obligation to implement similar safety features internationally. The company’s approach has raised questions about equal protections for minors globally, particularly in India, where millions of young users access its platforms, inc42.com confirms.