Meta has agreed to change Instagram and Facebook for users under 18 following a US legal settlement involving state attorneys general. Multiple outlets report that the agreement shifts several safety and wellness measures to be enabled by default rather than requiring teens to opt in. The changes are intended to reduce potential harms associated with social media use by minors.
The outlets describe a broad package of safeguards, including stricter time-related limits and additional controls over the teen experience. Reported measures include a daily time limit (commonly cited as two hours), enhanced age-assurance processes, and content and interaction guardrails. Some outlets also mention features such as “night mode” or restrictions during certain hours, parent-facing tools, and design changes like hiding “like” counts and limiting access to visible reactions.
While outlets largely align on the existence and purpose of the safeguards, they differ in emphasis and specificity. Some describe what Meta “promises to add” (including features like screen-time alerts and automatic settings), while others note remaining uncertainties about verification and enforcement. Bloomberg adds that the changes apply only to US users for now.
key_points
- Meta’s Instagram and Facebook teen safeguards are established through a US settlement with 52 state attorneys general (including DC and territories).
- Several protective measures are set to apply as default settings for users under 18, rather than requiring opt-in.
- Reported changes include time limits for teens, commonly described as a daily two-hour cap, plus restrictions during certain hours.
- Additional controls are expected to cover age assurance and safety design elements, including content/interaction guardrails.
- Measures such as hiding visible reactions/like counts and adding parent tools are described by multiple outlets, though details and enforcement methods vary by report.
