Meta has agreed to implement significant changes to Instagram and Facebook as part of a $17 billion settlement with U.S. attorneys general. The modifications aim to address concerns about how the platforms’ design features influence teen behavior and screen time habits. These changes will roll out over the coming six months and represent a major shift in how the social media giant approaches youth engagement.
The settlement introduces five key protections for teenage users. A two-hour daily limit will lock teens out of both apps once exceeded, unless a parent with parental controls intervenes. Night Mode will automatically block access between midnight and 6 a.m., while School Mode silences notifications between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Additionally, teens can now select a chronological feed as their default instead of the algorithm-driven option, and they can disable autoplay entirely. Other measures include restrictions on extreme makeup filters and regular screen time reminders during extended use.
Meta has also called on competing platforms YouTube and TikTok to adopt these same protections as industry standards. The company’s implementation will be monitored by an independent auditor annually for five years. However, experts emphasize that success depends not just on tool availability but on measurable improvements in teen well-being and behavior, requiring ongoing objective evaluation throughout the monitoring period.
Originally reported by Mashable →
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