Meta Agrees to Limit Teen Features on US Platforms in $18 Billion Settlement
Meta has agreed to pay approximately $18 billion and implement stricter features for users under 18 on Facebook and Instagram across participating US states. The settlement addresses concerns about child safety but does not include global commitments.
Meta has agreed to pay around $18 billion to settle lawsuits brought by 52 US state attorneys general alleging harm to children and teenagers on its platforms. The company has not admitted wrongdoing as part of the settlement.
The more significant aspect of the agreement involves Meta's commitment to alter how Facebook and Instagram function for users under 18 in participating US jurisdictions. These changes include a default daily time limit of two hours, restrictions on use between midnight and 6 AM, muted notifications during school hours, enhanced parental controls, and stronger age-assurance systems. Users will also have the option of a non-algorithmic feed. While direct messaging is exempt, disabling the time limit will require parental permission.
Additionally, Meta will restrict certain cosmetic filters and hide like counts by default. Most measures are set for a 10-year duration, with some, like the daily time limit and night mode, initially committed for five years. These protections could be extended to 10 years if competitors like TikTok and YouTube adopt similar safeguards.
The settlement applies only to participating US states and territories, and Meta has not committed to implementing these changes globally. In India, where regulators are already scrutinizing Meta over issues like child sexual abuse material and deepfakes, the settlement provides a reference point for examining product design rather than just content moderation. Experts argue there's no justification for offering Indian children a lower standard of protection.
"There is no persuasive reason why a safety feature considered necessary for a 15-year-old in California should be unavailable to a 15-year-old in Delhi," stated Mishi Choudhary of the Software Freedom Law Center. While some, like Mohammad Faisal Kawoosa of Techarc, suggest India should develop tailored safeguards, the consensus among many is that children should receive comparable protections across markets, shifting the debate towards how social media products are designed.