Meta agrees: to sweeping changes to restrict kids’ access to its apps as part

The social media giant says the new protections will automatically apply to users under 18 on Instagram and Facebook in participating U.S. states and territories, pending judicial approval. That the majority of these controls are required to remain in place for 10 years.

One of the most notable changes is that Meta plans to implement a daily two-hour time limit for teenagers on its platform. The limit can only be disabled with parental permission, and once the limit is reached, teens will be locked out of Facebook and Instagram.

Meta says the limit will be cumulative across Facebook and Instagram, which means that time spent on both apps will count toward the two-hour total. For related coverage, explore our detailed analysis on Technology and Digital Systems.

Limit Will Applied Meta Updates

The limit will also be applied if Meta detects someone is using multiple accounts. The company also shared kids will be able to choose a non-algorithmic feed that isn’t personalized Currently, users have been able to temporarily see a chronological feed on Instagram and Facebook, but can’t set it as their default feed.

Instead, the app pops up the algorithmic feeds each time you open the app.

Now, parents and guardians can set their teenaged kids’ default experience to a non-personalized feed. Meta shared it will also introduce a default “Night Mode” block on its apps between midnight and 6 a.m. that would prevent underage users from accessing, posting or viewing any part of its platforms.

A Meta spokesperson informed TechCrunch that while the company already mutes notifications for teens at night, the new setting will block them altogether after midnight. Teenagers will also receive prompts after every 15 minutes of continuous usage on Facebook or Instagram. The new prompts will accompany the current prompts that teens see when their total daily usage hits 60 minutes.

Meta Will Block Underage Updates

Meta will also block underage users from using extreme makeup filters, a move that expands upon its existing restrictions that prevent them from using cosmetic surgery filters. Additionally, the company will mute notifications m. and 3 p.m.

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During those hours, teens won’t receive push notifications, except for DMs and alerts related to account security or safety. Another new setting will allow parents and teens to turn off autoplay. Meta says they will need to take a “deliberate action,” such as tapping or swiping, to see more content.

Like and reaction counts on posts will also be hidden for underage users While teens can already choose to hide like counts, now those counts will be hidden Meta also shared it’s strengthening its technology for identifying users who may be aged 13 to 17, even if they provide an adult birth date, to ensure they receive appropriate protections.

The social media giant published an open letter asking TikTok and YouTube to join it in setting an industry-wide commitment Meta’s $18 billion settlement will be distributed to the states over 10 years, but 30% of the settlement, or about $5.3 billion, will only be paid if YouTube and TikTok implement the same limits. “All platforms should empower parents and support teens Meta shared it will continue to prevent teens from following or interacting with accounts it considers age-inappropriate.

It will also continue to default teens into private accounts and restrict suspicious adults from contacting them. When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission . This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

Aisha is a consumer news reporter at TechCrunch. Prior to joining the publication in 2021, she was a telecom reporter at MobileSyrup. Aisha holds an honours bachelor’s degree from University of Toronto and a master’s degree in journalism from Western University.

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