Teenagers using Instagram and Facebook in the United States could soon face stricter limits on when and how long they can use the platforms under a proposed settlement between Meta and several US states.
The agreement, announced Wednesday, follows allegations that Meta deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram in ways that could encourage children to spend excessive amounts of time on the platforms.
The proposed settlement still requires approval from a judge before the new measures can take effect.
Meta To Pay Billions
Under the agreement, Meta would pay approximately $11.7 billion over 10 years, with payments made in annual instalments.
The amount could rise to as much as $16.7 billion if rival social media platforms agree to similar commitments.
Meta would also pay $75 million to cover legal costs incurred by the states, while another $459 million would go towards resolving older claims connected to the Cambridge Analytica data scandal.
The states are expected to use the funds for programmes including youth mental health support, crisis services, after-school activities and digital literacy initiatives.
Teens Could Face A Midnight Curfew
One of the biggest proposed changes would be an overnight restriction on teen accounts.
Within six months of the settlement taking effect, teenage accounts would automatically be locked out of Facebook and Instagram between midnight and 6:00 am local time.
While teenagers would still be able to access limited messaging and account settings during those hours, the features would be restricted to prevent them from interacting with the wider platforms.
Meta would also be required to switch off push notifications between 10:00 pm and 7:00 am.
Two-Hour Daily Limit
Teen accounts would also have a default limit of two hours of cumulative use per day across Meta’s platforms.
The allowance would reset at midnight, although messaging and long-form video would not count towards the two-hour limit.
Teenagers would not be able to change the restrictions themselves without parental approval, while parents would have the option of imposing even tighter limits.
If competing platforms introduce similar restrictions, the proposed rules would become stricter.
The overnight block would extend from 10:00 pm to 7:00 am, while teenagers would receive only 60 minutes per app, with total use capped at two hours across participating platforms.
School-Hour Restrictions
Notifications would also be silenced during school hours, which would be defined as 8:00 am to 3:00 pm on weekdays during the school year.
Within four months, teenagers would also be offered an option to use a feed that is not personalised by algorithms.
Like counts would be hidden by default, while filters designed to alter users’ physical appearance through cosmetic surgery effects would be prohibited.
Tougher Age Verification
Meta would have one year to introduce an age-verification system capable of more accurately identifying teenage users.
Under the proposed terms, the system must meet specific accuracy standards for users aged 13 to 17.
New accounts whose ages remain unverified after 14 days would automatically be treated as teen accounts, regardless of the age entered during registration.
Meta would also face additional requirements for identifying users under 13, who are prohibited from using the platforms under US law.
Parents To Get More Control
Parents would receive more information and control over their teenagers’ accounts.
They would get daily notifications showing how much time their children spend on the platforms, reminders to review safety settings and the ability to adjust designated school hours.
Meta would also be required to respond to teenagers reporting illegal or offensive content within six hours in at least 90 per cent of cases submitted in English or Spanish.
An independent auditor would monitor Meta’s compliance with the settlement for 10 years.
The proposed agreement also includes a separate ruling preventing Meta from making false or misleading claims about the safety features available on its platforms.
If approved, the settlement could significantly change how millions of American teenagers interact with Facebook and Instagram, while placing greater responsibility on Meta and parents to regulate young users’ social media habits.
