Meta’s $18 Billion Settlement Will Bring New Rules for Child Users

Meta has agreed to an $18 billion settlement with 48 U.S. states over allegations that its platforms put children at risk. The deal will bring major changes to Instagram and Facebook for users under 18, including daily time limits, overnight restrictions and expanded parental controls. The agreement also puts pressure on other social media companies to adopt similar safeguards. But critics say the settlement does not go far enough in addressing the platform designs they argue can encourage addictive use.

What Meta Agreed to

Meta denied wrongdoing but agreed to settle the federal case after evidence was presented that the company knew its products could harm children's mental health. The company will make maximum payments totaling $16.7 billion to 47 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands. California could receive $2.2 billion, while New York could receive $1.1 billion. Texas reached a separate settlement worth more than $1 billion. The payments will be made over 10 years. Some states plan to use the money for children's mental health services. Meta's total payout is a relatively small portion of its $201 billion revenue in 2025. The settlement does not require Meta to eliminate personalized recommendations or targeted advertising. It also leaves several features criticized by child safety advocates untouched. Meta said ensuring teenagers have a "safe and productive experience" on its platforms is an "absolute imperative."

Instagram and Facebook Will Get New Limits

The most visible change for young users will be a two-hour daily limit on Meta's platforms. Users under 18 will also face a midnight to 6 a.m. curfew. Meta will hide likes and reactions on children's accounts to reduce social comparison, while cosmetic procedure filters will be disabled by default. Parents will be able to override some of these restrictions with their consent. Meta will also disable most push notifications for teenage users during school hours, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The company is expected to introduce the changes gradually after court approval. Non-personalized feeds are due within four months, broader compliance measures within six months and major age-assurance requirements within one year.

Parents Will Get More Control

The settlement gives parents and guardians a much larger role in monitoring teenage accounts. Designated adults will be able to see how much time teenagers spend on Meta's apps, along with the usernames of social connections and accounts that message their children. Parents will also receive a daily notification when a teenager messages an adult account for the first time, including a link to that adult's account. Meta will send another notification if a teen searches for terms connected to suicide, self-harm or eating disorders. The company also agreed to strengthen its age-checking technology using both its own systems and third-party tools. Outside audits will regularly assess how effectively those systems work.

The Settlement Could Depend on Meta’s Rivals

Meta has not agreed to pay the full settlement amount immediately. The company has committed to paying about 70%, or roughly $12.7 billion, over the next decade. The remaining approximately $5 billion would be triggered if rival platforms, including Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube, adopt comparable measures and agree to make similar payments. Meta has also said it would reduce the daily limit from two hours to one hour if other platforms make the same change. That condition could turn the settlement into something larger than a Meta-only agreement. It creates a financial incentive for competing social platforms to adopt similar restrictions.

Critics Say the Biggest Problem Remains

Child safety advocates have welcomed the changes but argue that a two-hour limit does not address the underlying design of social media platforms. Sacha Haworth of The Tech Oversight Project called the agreement a "historic settlement" but said protections need to apply across every platform and remain permanent. Ella Bradshaw, a child safety policy officer at the NSPCC, welcomed efforts to address personalized algorithms and likes. She said important gaps remain, including disappearing messages, infinite scrolling, gifting and livestreaming. Bradshaw also raised concerns about Meta's AI chatbots and argued that protections should extend to younger children and continue beyond the point when users turn 18. The criticism centers on whether limiting time spent online can solve problems created by the way platforms are designed to keep users engaged.

The U.S. Deal Comes as Global Pressure Builds

The settlement arrives as governments around the world increase scrutiny of social media companies and their treatment of younger users. European Union regulators are pursuing cases involving Meta's artificial intelligence activity on WhatsApp, as well as child safety and potentially addictive features on Facebook and Instagram. The European Commission has accused Meta of designing its platforms to be addictive and said the company needs to address risks to users' physical and mental health. The United Kingdom has announced a social media ban for people under 16 that is expected to take effect next year. Officials are also considering overnight curfews and measures targeting infinite scrolling for users under 18. Brazil has pursued legal action against Meta, TikTok and Kwai over alleged failures to protect children and teenagers from addictive platform use. Since March, platforms in Brazil have been required to link accounts belonging to children under 16 with legal guardians. South Korea's media regulator also called for stronger protections for young users and said the measures should ideally apply worldwide.

What Comes Next

The U.S. settlement still requires court approval before its implementation schedule begins. For Meta, the next major test will be whether the new restrictions change how young people use Instagram and Facebook without simply shifting them to other platforms. The company will also face pressure from regulators outside the United States to extend similar protections to users in other markets. Whether the settlement becomes a model for the wider social media industry may ultimately depend on what Meta's competitors are willing to adopt.

FAQ

What is Meta's $18 billion settlement about?

Meta agreed to an $18 billion settlement with 48 U.S. states over allegations that Facebook and Instagram endangered children and teenagers.

What new limits will children face on Instagram and Facebook?

Users under 18 will face a two-hour daily usage limit and a midnight to 6 a.m. overnight curfew.

Will parents be able to monitor their children's Meta accounts?

Yes. Parents and guardians will receive information about app usage, some social connections and certain interactions involving adult accounts.

When will Meta's new child safety measures take effect?

After court approval, non-personalized feeds are expected within four months, broader compliance measures within six months and major age-assurance requirements within one year.

Will Meta's changes apply worldwide?

The settlement applies to users in the United States. It remains unclear whether Meta will introduce the same measures globally, although the company faces growing regulatory pressure in other countries.