13 hrs ago
Meta Plans Sweeping Teen Safety Changes After $17 Billion Settlement
Meta is changing how teenagers use Facebook and Instagram after settling a major case brought by US states.
The states said Meta made its apps difficult for young people to stop using and hid risks to children.
Meta will set limits on how long teenagers can use the apps each day.
Teenagers will also be blocked from using them overnight unless the rules are changed under the settlement.
Notifications will be turned off during school hours.
Parents will get more control over their children's accounts.
Meta will change some features, such as likes, filters and recommended videos, to reduce harmful pressure.
It will also use technology to look for children under 13 who may be using the platforms.
Meta agreed to pay up to $17 billion to settle a legal battle involving 48 states, Washington, DC and US territories.
Teen accounts will receive a default two-hour daily limit and an automatic midnight-to-6 a.m. access block.
Push notifications will be muted during weekday school hours, while parents will receive stronger controls.
Meta plans to hide like counts, restrict some filters, add content controls and offer non-algorithmic feeds.
Meta will use age-assurance technology and activity signals to identify possible under-13 accounts and seek comparable safeguards from TikTok and YouTube.
- Who
- Meta, 48 US states, Washington, DC, several US territories, teenagers, parents, TikTok and YouTube.
- What
- Meta agreed to pay up to $17 billion and implement new teen-safety, parental-control and age-verification measures on Facebook and Instagram.
- Where
- Facebook and Instagram in the United States; the settlement covers 48 states, Washington, DC and several US territories.
- When
- The settlement requires changes including a two-hour daily limit, midnight-to-6 a.m. blocking and muted school-hour notifications; exact implementation dates are not stated.
- Why
- The legal case alleged that Meta designed its platforms to keep young users engaged, concealed risks to children and collected data from under-13 users without parental consent.
State allegations and child-safety concerns
Meta’s platform-wide safety approach
Platform design and teen engagement
State allegations and child-safety concerns
The states alleged that Meta designed Facebook and Instagram to keep young users hooked and concealed risks to children.
Meta’s platform-wide safety approach
Meta is introducing time limits, overnight blocks, muted school-hour notifications and changes to engagement features to reduce excessive use and social comparison.
Age verification
State allegations and child-safety concerns
The case alleged that children under 13 could use false birth dates to bypass Meta’s age restriction and that data was collected without parental consent.
Meta’s platform-wide safety approach
Meta plans to rely on age-assurance technology, AI-based detection, account activity and network signals rather than requiring every user to submit government identification or a video selfie.
Scope of the safeguards
State allegations and child-safety concerns
Restrictions limited to Facebook and Instagram could leave teenagers using other platforms instead, according to Meta’s stated concern.
Meta’s platform-wide safety approach
Meta is seeking comparable one-hour limits, nighttime restrictions and stronger age-assurance systems from TikTok and YouTube, with part of the settlement tied to their participation.
Key facts
- Settlement value
- Up to $17 billion
- Settlement coverage
- 48 states, Washington, DC and several US territories
- Default teen usage limit
- Two hours daily; messaging and long-form video do not count toward the limit
- Overnight restriction
- Facebook and Instagram access blocked from midnight to 6 a.m. local time
- Age verification
- Meta plans to use age-assurance technology, AI-based detection and activity signals
- Independent oversight
- An independent auditor will monitor implementation and compliance
- Possible industry expansion
- About $5.3 billion, or 30% of the settlement, would be released to states if TikTok and YouTube adopt comparable safeguards and collectively pay the same amount
Sources
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