Meta has agreed to introduce broad protections for teenage users of Instagram and Facebook under a child safety settlement with attorneys general representing 51 US states and territories. The agreement resolves part of nationwide litigation alleging that major social media companies failed to protect children and designed platforms to encourage compulsive use. Most provisions must remain in effect for at least 10 years.
The requirements will apply nationwide except in New Mexico and Florida, while Texas has reached a separate agreement containing similar terms. Within four months, Meta must offer teens an accessible nonpersonalized feed and periodically remind them and their parents that it is available.
Meta must also strengthen age assurance systems to identify users under 13, apply enhanced protections to those aged 13 to 17, and default unevaluated new accounts to teen settings. The system will face independent review and must include privacy safeguards and an appeals process.
Teen use across both platforms will be capped at two hours daily unless a parent disables the limit. Messaging, settings, and long-form audio or video will not count. Meta will also display scrolling reminders every 15 minutes, with additional prompts after 60 and 90 minutes.
By default, most platform features will be unavailable from midnight to 6AM, although messaging and account settings will remain accessible. Push notifications will generally be muted from 8AM to 3PM, excluding direct messages and security or safety alerts. Parents may adjust these controls.
Other changes include an autoplay switch, hidden like and reaction counts, and tighter limits on extreme makeup filters. Existing measures, including private teen accounts, content restrictions, and barriers preventing suspicious adults from contacting minors, will continue.
Meta will pay states $17.1 billion over 10 years. However, $5.3 billion is conditional on TikTok and YouTube adopting comparable protections and matching that payment amount.
