A landmark agreement between Meta and 48 US states could change the way social media platforms operate, with the company accepting a series of strict new commitments aimed at protecting children and teenagers on Facebook and Instagram.
Under the settlement, Meta has agreed to pay at least $12 billion over a decade to resolve a major legal case concerning the impact of its platforms on young users. While Meta has not admitted legal liability, the agreement is significant because it effectively acknowledges that some aspects of its products and business practices require substantial changes.
Among the most important measures is a two-hour daily usage limit for teenagers, along with restrictions preventing access to content feeds between midnight and 6am. Push notifications will also be disabled overnight and during school hours.
The settlement introduces stronger requirements for dealing with content linked to sexual abuse. Meta will be expected to respond more quickly to reports from users, while the company will also strengthen systems designed to verify the ages of people using its platforms.
One of the most significant provisions is the appointment of an independent monitor, who will oversee Meta’s compliance with the agreement for 10 years. The monitor will have access to internal data, documents and communications and will be able to report potential breaches to participating states.
However, the agreement leaves several major issues unresolved. It does not require Meta to remove features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay, which critics argue can encourage prolonged and compulsive use. The algorithms that determine what content users see also remain largely unchanged.
The settlement could have implications well beyond the United States, particularly in Europe. The European Commission has already been investigating Meta under the Digital Services Act (DSA) over concerns about the protection of children and potentially addictive design features on Facebook and Instagram.
European regulators have been examining features including infinite scrolling, autoplay, push notifications and personalised recommendation systems, arguing that platforms must do more to assess and reduce risks to young users.
The US agreement could therefore provide European authorities with a new benchmark when assessing the responsibilities of major technology companies.
It could also increase pressure on competitors such as TikTok and YouTube to introduce similar safeguards. Meta itself has called on the two platforms to adopt measures including limits on teenage usage, overnight restrictions and the removal of notifications during school hours.
The settlement may ultimately represent a broader shift in the debate over online safety: protecting children is no longer simply about controlling what they see, but also about changing how social media platforms are designed to keep them engaged.
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