Meta announced on Wednesday that it will implement significant changes to how teenagers use its platforms, Instagram and Facebook, following a landmark settlement with 47 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. The agreement addresses claims regarding social media addiction, aiming to enhance user safety for younger audiences.
### New Usage Limits for Teenagers
As part of this settlement, Meta will introduce new features and restrictions over the next six months. Starting immediately, teenagers will face a daily limit of two hours on both Instagram and Facebook. Parents will have the option to adjust this limit through their child’s account settings, but any extension beyond the two-hour threshold will require parental permission. Furthermore, usage of the platforms will be automatically restricted during nighttime hours, specifically from midnight to 6 a.m.
In addition to these time limits, Meta will silence notifications for teen users during school hours, which are defined as 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. This initiative aims to reduce distractions for students and encourages a healthier balance between online engagement and real-world activities.
### Enhanced User Controls and Safety Features
The changes will also provide teenagers with more control over their online experience. For the first time, young users will be able to disable the “autoplay” feature, which automatically plays content while they scroll. Instead, they will have the option to choose which photos or videos to view, enhancing their ability to manage content consumption.
Moreover, teenagers will now have the ability to turn off the personalized feed, which is tailored by algorithms to show content based on individual user behavior. This option was not previously available, and it allows users to engage with a broader selection of content rather than being confined to algorithmically curated options.
Meta plans to implement additional prompts for teenage users. Every 15 minutes of continuous app usage, teens will receive a notification on their screens, reminding them of their time spent on the platforms. Additional prompts will follow at 60 and 90 minutes of use.
In a further effort to alleviate potential anxiety, Meta will disable “like” counts for these users and restrict access to extreme makeup filters and filters that simulate cosmetic surgery.
### Strengthening Protections Against Unwanted Interaction
Meta also committed to enhancing protections against unwanted contact from strangers. This includes restricting adult users from messaging teenagers or viewing their profiles, details about which are yet to be fully disclosed. In response to concerns about harmful content, the company will implement a streamlined reporting process for teens, promising to address 90% of reported issues within a six-hour window.
In addition, Meta will maintain existing tools that allow parents to monitor their children’s activity on the platforms. This includes insights into time spent on apps, content interactions, and alerts for new account creations or suspicious activities.
### Investment in Age Verification Technology
Age verification remains a significant challenge for social media platforms, including Meta. As part of the settlement, the company has committed to investing in improved technologies designed to ensure that users’ ages are accurately confirmed. This will include efforts to identify users aged 13 and younger and take appropriate action to remove these accounts.
The changes outlined in this agreement mark a pivotal shift in Meta’s approach to social media for teens, reflecting an increased emphasis on user safety and responsible engagement. As these new features roll out, stakeholders in education and child safety will be closely monitoring their impact on how young users navigate social media environments.
Source reference: Full report
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