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The social media giant is both rolling out new features and building on existing features designed to create a safer and less addictive experience for Facebook and Instagram users under 18 [File]
| Photo Credit: REUTERS
The story so far: On August 26, 2026, Meta agreed to an approximately $18 billion settlement with dozens of U.S. states in annual instalments over 10 years, and announced stricter controls in its apps for teen users. The settlement is the culmination of a lawsuit brought by California and 28 other U.S. states alleging that Facebook and Instagram are harmful for children and that they illegally collect personal data. While several parents and child health advocates welcomed the new child protection controls, enforcing them will be a lot more challenging.
The social media giant is both rolling out new features and building on existing features designed to create a safer and less addictive experience for Facebook and Instagram users under 18.
These measures are set to automatically apply in participating U.S. states and territories. 52 attorneys general covering U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia have joined the agreement.
Arguably, the biggest win for parents and the biggest concession by Meta is a default two-hour daily time limit across Facebook and Instagram. Teens can only turn this off with a parent’s permission.
