Meta is implementing new safety features for Instagram and Facebook users under 18, including daily time limits and content restrictions, following an $18 billion legal settlement regarding teen addiction.

Key Points

• Meta will enforce a two-hour daily default time limit for teen accounts, which can only be extended by parental authorization.
• New "night mode" and "school mode" features will restrict app access and mute notifications during specific hours to reduce distractions.
• Teens will no longer see likes or reactions by default, and access to content involving cosmetic surgery or extreme filters will be limited.
• The company is introducing non-algorithmic feed options and new, yet-to-be-detailed, age-assurance technology to verify user ages.
• Meta will establish an independent research foundation to share consented user data aimed at improving teen well-being.

Why it Matters

These changes represent a significant shift in how major social media platforms manage youth engagement in response to mounting legal and regulatory pressure. While the updates aim to curb addictive behaviors, critics argue that addressing surface-level features fails to resolve the underlying business model that prioritizes user attention.