Technology
Meta agrees to $18 billion settlement with states to impose strict youth safety rules on Instagram and Facebook
The proposed deal with 48 states introduces mandatory time limits, night lockouts, and improved age verification for minor accounts.
The short version
- Meta Platforms agreed to an $18 billion settlement over 10 years with 48 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and territories to resolve child safety litigation.
- Accounts belonging to users under 18 will feature a default two-hour daily limit, an overnight usage block from midnight to 6 a.m., hidden like counts, and tightened age checks.
- Child advocates and critics argue the settlement leaves harmful recommendation algorithms enabled by default and relies too heavily on parental controls.
- The agreement remains preliminary until it receives formal approval from a judge.
Key facts
- Meta Platforms reached an $18 billion settlement to be disbursed across 10 years with 48 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.[Associated Press]
- The terms establish a default two-hour daily cap, a midnight-to-6 a.m. application cutoff, and hidden like counts for users under the age of 18.[Associated Press]
- Meta agreed to implement third-party age-verification tools and submit to regular independent audits to keep children under 13 off its platforms.[Associated Press]
- Certain features, including chronological feed sorting and disabling video autoplay, remain opt-in rather than default under the agreement.[Associated Press]
- The proposed settlement is subject to approval by a judge.[Associated Press]
What remains uncertain
- It is not yet determined whether the presiding judge will approve the proposed settlement without modifications.[Associated Press]
- The real-world effectiveness of the new age-assurance systems and safety restrictions remains untested in full implementation.[Associated Press]