Meta settles youth mental health and data privacy claims with 52 attorneys general for $18 billion

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Facebook parent company Meta settled cases involving youth mental health and data privacy claims with 52 bipartisan attorneys general across US states, territories and Washington, D.C. for approximately $18 billion. The Mark Zuckerberg-led company has committed to rolling out major protective overhauls for under-18 users across Instagram and Facebook. The settlement concluded a federal trial in Oakland, California, which scrutinised how social media platforms impact adolescent well-being. While Meta agreed to the financial distribution terms and sweeping platform adjustments, the company maintained that it committed no wrongdoing. Under the formal agreement, the financial settlement will be paid out to participating jurisdictions over a 10-year timeline to support youth online safety programs and other state initiatives.

11 core protections Meta promises for teens and parents

In a blog, Meta has committed to implementing comprehensive behavioural, algorithmic and privacy modifications designed to foster healthier screen habits and give parents greater oversight:Combined two-hour daily time cap: A default daily limit of two hours will apply across both Facebook and Instagram combined, counting total scrolling time across duplicate or multiple profiles. Minors can only disable the limit with verified parental permission.Automatic ‘Night Mode’: Between midnight and 6:00 am, access to Feeds, Stories, Reels and Explore pages will be automatically blocked for minors.‘School Mode’ notifications: Standard push notifications will be muted by default from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, though critical account security notices and direct messages will still go through.Regular screen-time checks: Automated screen-time alerts will trigger after 15 minutes of uninterrupted browsing, followed by additional usage prompts when total daily screen time reaches 60 and 90 minutes.Non-algorithmic feed choices: Young users will have the option to set an non-personalised, non-algorithmic feed as their default view, with regular reminders about the feature, while parents can enforce the setting.Manual autoplay controls: Teens and parents can turn off video autoplay, requiring an intentional swipe or tap before another video begins playing.Hidden Like and Reaction counts: The visibility of reaction and like tallies on their own posts and those of other users will be hidden by default for minor accounts.Prohibiting extreme cosmetic filters: Adding to existing bans on cosmetic surgery filters, Meta will prohibit youth accounts from accessing extreme cosmetic and makeup enhancement filters.Enhanced age assurance systems: The company said that it is deploying upgraded AI models to identify and take down accounts belonging to children under 13, while placing users aged 13 to 17 in protective experiences even if they enter adult birthdays. According to the company, it will continue advocating for federal legislation requiring mobile app stores to verify user ages and require parental consent prior to downloads. 13+ content guardrails: Teen profiles will automatically default to 13+ age-appropriate content settings based on movie rating criteria and parent feedback to ensure minors don’t see or follow inappropriate accounts. Restricting stranger contact: Finally, Instagram and Facebook will make minor profiles default to private mode, block contact from suspicious adult accounts and make it tougher for unfamiliar adults to find teen profiles. Meta said the direct messaging features will still be available outside of Nite Mode and School Mode and the two-hour time limit so that teens can still connect with family and friends.

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