Social media usage for children and teenagers may soon change significantly on Facebook and Instagram. Meta has agreed to a major settlement in the United States related to child safety concerns. Under the agreement, the company could pay around $17 billion and introduce several safety changes for minor users. However, Meta has not accepted any wrongdoing or legal responsibility through this settlement.
The new plan includes daily usage limits, nighttime access restrictions, and reduced notifications during school hours. Additionally, Meta will strengthen age verification systems and improve parental controls. The company has faced allegations that some features encouraged excessive Facebook and Instagram usage among teenagers. However, Meta denied these claims and said safer online experiences remain a priority.
Meta Could Pay Billions Under New Settlement
Meta may pay up to $17.1 billion to resolve cases connected with children’s online safety. However, the settlement still requires final court approval. The allegations claimed that Meta created features encouraging teenagers to spend more time on Facebook and Instagram.
Meanwhile, the company rejected these allegations. Meta said it focuses on creating a safer digital environment for teenagers. The agreement aims to address concerns related to minor users and platform safety.
Two-Hour Daily Limit Planned For Users Below 18
Under Meta’s upcoming plan, Facebook and Instagram combined will have a default daily limit of two hours for users below 18 years. Furthermore, removing this limit will require parental permission.
The total usage time will include activity across both platforms. Therefore, teenagers will not receive separate time allowances for Facebook and Instagram.
Night Access And School Notifications To Face Restrictions
Meta plans to block Facebook and Instagram access for minors between midnight and 6 AM. This move aims to reduce late-night social media usage among children.
Additionally, notifications will remain muted during school hours. From 8 AM to 3 PM, notifications will automatically reduce by default. However, users will still receive direct messages and important safety alerts.
Moreover, Meta plans to show break reminders during continuous app usage. These reminders will encourage teenagers to take regular pauses.
Stronger Age Checks And Parent Controls Coming Soon
Meta will introduce stricter technology for verifying user ages. Alongside this, the company will make parental controls easier to manage.
Furthermore, additional safety measures will protect children from harmful content. Meta also plans to remove like and reaction counts from minors’ posts.
The company is also considering restrictions on certain beauty filters for younger users. These changes aim to create a safer experience for children and teenagers using social platforms.
