Technology
Meta agrees to $18 billion settlement and new teen protections on Instagram
The deal with 52 US states and territories includes daily time limits and night blocks for underage users, though part of the payout depends on competitors.
The short version
- Meta settled an $18 billion lawsuit brought by 52 US states, territories, and Washington, D.C., alleging Instagram was intentionally designed to be addictive to teenagers.
- The agreement imposes default teen safety features on Instagram and Facebook, including a two-hour daily limit, a midnight-to-6 a.m. night mode, and school-hour notification mutes.
- Seventy percent of the settlement funding is guaranteed, but the remaining 30 percent and the long-term permanence of certain features are tied to whether YouTube and TikTok enact similar measures.
Key facts
- Meta reached a settlement in an $18 billion lawsuit filed by attorneys general representing 52 US states, territories, and the District of Columbia.[9to5Mac]
- The lawsuit alleged Meta intentionally made Instagram addictive to teens, leading to cyberbullying, sleep deprivation, and body image issues.[9to5Mac]
- New default settings for users under 18 across Instagram and Facebook include a cumulative two-hour daily limit, a block on app use from midnight to 6 a.m., and notification mutes from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.[9to5Mac]
- Seventy percent of the $18 billion settlement is guaranteed to support youth safety initiatives, while 30 percent requires YouTube and TikTok to match protections and financial contributions.[9to5Mac]
What remains uncertain
- It is unknown whether YouTube and TikTok will implement matching teen safety features or contribute financial funds to fulfill the settlement conditions.[9to5Mac]
- Meta noted that its daily time limits and night mode restrictions are only guaranteed for five years unless competing platforms adopt identical rules.[9to5Mac]