The short version
- Meta must implement a two-hour daily usage cap and block access between midnight and 6 AM for teen accounts across most US states.
- The settlement requires non-personalized feed options, hidden like counts, and persistent notifications to interrupt prolonged scrolling sessions.
- Enhanced age assurance measures will be audited independently, with new users receiving protective settings by default until verified.
Meta has entered into a comprehensive agreement with attorneys general from fifty-one US states and territories to overhaul how its social media platforms operate for adolescent users. The settlement addresses longstanding legal challenges alleging that the company designed Instagram and Facebook to be addictive while failing to adequately protect children. Under the terms of this accord, which mandates protections for at least ten years, the tech giant must deploy a suite of new safeguards that fundamentally alter the user experience for those aged thirteen to seventeen.
Central to the agreement is a strict limitation on daily usage. Teens will face a cumulative two-hour cap on time spent across both Instagram and Facebook each day. This limit applies even if a user maintains alternate accounts, provided Meta’s systems can detect them. The clock resets at midnight, though certain activities are exempt from this calculation. Time spent watching videos or listening to audio content longer than twenty-two minutes, engaging in direct messaging, or adjusting account settings will not count toward the daily maximum. Parents retain the ability to disable this restriction if they choose.
Nighttime access will also be severely restricted for adolescent users. Between midnight and 6 AM, teens will be blocked from viewing feeds, stories, reels, or scrolling through the Explore page on either platform. They will also be unable to post new content during these hours. However, the settlement allows for continued access to messaging features and account settings during this window, ensuring that communication channels remain open while limiting passive consumption. As with the daily time limit, parents can modify these nighttime restrictions according to their preferences.
The agreement introduces significant changes to how content is presented to young users. Within four months, Meta must provide a reasonably accessible option for a non-personalized feed, allowing teens to bypass the company’s recommendation algorithms. Parents will also have the authority to set this uncurated view as the default for their children’s accounts. Additionally, the number of likes and reactions on posts will be hidden by default for teen users, both on their own content and on posts they view from others. This measure aims to reduce social pressure and comparison dynamics often associated with visible engagement metrics.
To combat excessive scrolling, Meta is required to implement persistent prompts that interrupt user activity. Every fifteen minutes of continuous scrolling, teens will receive a notification encouraging them to pause or explore different topics. Additional prompts will appear after sixty and ninety minutes of use. These notifications are designed to prevent mindless or unintended usage patterns. An example provided in the settlement documents suggests messages such as “You’ve scrolled for a while,” accompanied by options to review algorithm settings or view content from other categories. Parents can adjust the frequency and restrictiveness of these interruptions.
Age verification processes will undergo rigorous enhancement under the new rules. Meta must either develop its own age assurance standard or adopt a third-party solution capable of distinguishing between users under thirteen, who are prohibited from using the platforms, and those aged thirteen to seventeen, who receive specific protections. New accounts that have not yet been evaluated by the system will automatically receive teen-level safeguards. The company is also required to adhere to data minimization policies regarding age verification and establish a process for users to appeal their status as minors. An independent auditor will review the effectiveness of these age assurance systems.
Other modifications include muting push notifications during school hours, specifically between 8 AM and 3 PM, unless they concern direct messages or account security. Teens will also gain the ability to toggle off autoplay features, requiring manual interaction to view content rather than having it play automatically. Furthermore, access to beauty filters will be limited; while effects that distort appearance for entertainment or resemble fantasy characters remain available, “extreme makeup” filters and those simulating cosmetic surgery will be restricted. Filters that merely smooth skin or mimic ordinary makeup techniques are exempt from this ban.
The implementation of these changes will occur across all US states except New Mexico and Florida. New Mexico is currently engaged in a separate legal battle with Meta, while Florida has enacted its own legislation banning social media accounts for children under fourteen. Texas reached a distinct settlement with similar requirements. The broad coalition behind this agreement includes major jurisdictions such as California, New York, Illinois, and Washington, signaling a coordinated effort to regulate digital safety standards. These measures represent a significant shift in how social media companies manage adolescent engagement and privacy.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Verge↗All the ways Instagram and Facebook are changing for teens
