Meta Platforms, Inc. will limit teen usage of Instagram and Facebook to two hours per day as part of a legal settlement [1].
The move follows a U.S. lawsuit alleging the company's platforms harmed the mental health and safety of children. This settlement marks a significant shift in how social media giants manage adolescent users and may force industry-wide changes to platform design.
Under the terms of the agreement, Meta will implement a strict two-hour daily limit for teen accounts [1]. The company will also introduce several safety features, including age-verification processes, and nighttime blocks to prevent late-night scrolling [2]. Additionally, Meta will hide "likes" on teen profiles to reduce social pressure and comparison [2].
Financial reports regarding the settlement vary slightly between sources. Some reports indicate the payout is $17.1 billion [3], while other figures place the total at $18 billion [4].
Meta is also encouraging other social media competitors to adopt similar restrictions for younger users [1]. The settlement aims to address systemic issues regarding addictive algorithms and the psychological impact of social media on minors [3].
While the settlement introduces these guardrails, some critics argue that teens remain vulnerable to the platforms' core mechanics. The implementation of age-verification is expected to be a primary focus as Meta rolls out the new restrictions [2].
“Meta will limit teen usage of Instagram and Facebook to two hours per day.”
This settlement establishes a legal and financial precedent for holding social media companies accountable for the mental health of minors. By agreeing to hard time limits and removing vanity metrics like 'likes,' Meta is moving away from a growth-at-all-costs model for younger demographics. If other platforms follow suit, it could redefine the standard for digital safety and adolescent internet regulation in the U.S.
