Meta Teen Safety Rules
Meta Reaches Settlement With States To Implement Strict Rules And Time Limits For Minors
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Meta has agreed to pay $18 billion to settle with 48 U.S. states over social media addiction harms to children. The settlement requires the company to limit kids under 18 to two hours daily on its platforms and block access between midnight and 6 a.m. Winnipeg Free Press reports Meta must also improve age verification for users under 13 and hide "like" counts to reduce social pressure.
Children's advocates welcome the changes as historic, but warn they fall short of solving deeper problems. The Independent notes that critics question whether Meta can effectively police its own safeguards, since the company largely defines what counts as harm and retains control over enforcement.
Two Hours and a Midnight Curfew
The settlement's centerpiece limits teen screen time sharply. AP News reports users under 18 face a hard cap of two hours per day on Meta's platforms—Facebook and Instagram. From midnight to 6 a.m., all kids get locked out completely. MDJ Online explains these limits can only be disabled with parental permission, giving families direct control over enforcement.
Age Verification and Hiding Social Metrics
Meta must strengthen how it verifies ages for children under 13. Yahoo Finance notes the company will improve its age-estimation technology to keep younger children off adult-focused platforms. Additionally, hiding "like" counts removes a metric that drives comparison and anxiety among teens. The changes aim to reduce pressure to post frequently.
Critics Say Limits Don't Address Root Causes
Arturo Béjar, a former Meta engineering director, called the deal a milestone but flagged a critical flaw: Houston Chronicle reports Meta retains power to define what harms count. Béjar warned the company could argue that addiction or mental health damage don't qualify as "harm," effectively sidestepping accountability. Child safety advocates worry time limits alone won't change Meta's core algorithm design, which prioritizes engagement over wellbeing.
A Landmark but Incomplete Victory
The $18 billion penalty is the largest settlement of its kind, signaling state governments' willingness to act. Dayton Daily News reports the agreement covers all Meta platforms and applies nationwide. Yet skeptics note that financial penalties alone don't reshape how social media operates. Without forcing algorithmic changes, they argue, Meta could simply absorb the cost and continue practices that fuel teen addiction.
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