Anchorage – Alaska will receive roughly $16 million from a multistate settlement that holds Meta accountable for designing Instagram and Facebook to be addictive to children. The money, which may ultimately approach $21 million, will be allocated over nine years for enforcement, education, mental‑health treatment and research.
What the settlement requires
Meta must implement a suite of safety features on its two platforms, including:
- Hard daily time caps of two hours for combined Instagram and Facebook use, with mandatory “Productive Pauses” after 15, 60 and 90 minutes of continuous scrolling.
- Night‑time blocks that block access from midnight to 6 a.m.
- Limited school‑time access, eliminating push notifications during weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Robust age‑verification measures to better confirm the age of young users.
- Age‑appropriate content controls that strengthen safeguards against bullying, eating‑disorder content, suicide and self‑harm.
- More user‑friendly parental controls.
- Limits on social‑comparison features such as beauty filters and visible “like” counts, which research links to poor mental‑health outcomes in children and teens.
- Independent audits to assess implementation and effectiveness.
These changes are more comprehensive than any prior court‑ordered mandates and represent a crucial first step toward a healthier digital environment for Alaska’s youth.
State leaders praise the agreement
Governor Mike Dunleavy called the settlement “a necessary and imperative step to protect our children,” noting that social media has left a generation scarred by bullying, harassment, doom‑scrolling and predation. Alaska Attorney General Cori Mills, a mother of two, expressed relief that the new safeguards will help keep teens healthy and positively engaged.
“Regardless of political party, attorneys general across the United States are collaborating to tackle the biggest consumer‑protection challenges,” Mills said, highlighting the bipartisan nature of the effort.
Why this is only the beginning
The agreement binds only Meta. Other platforms—including WhatsApp, Messenger, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube and emerging virtual‑reality and AI services—remain unaddressed. The settlement does not include an admission of wrongdoing, nor does it impose permanent obligations beyond ten years.
Alaska Family Council commended the work of the Attorney General’s office but warned that continued vigilance is required. “This is just the beginning of our fight for virtual accountability,” the council said.
Call to action: Pass the Kids Online Safety Act
Congress must build on this settlement with broader legislation. The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which recently cleared a Senate committee with two‑thirds support, would establish a real, enforceable duty of care for all major platforms. It includes provisions for stronger age verification, mandatory safety features and independent oversight.
State leaders urge the House to move the bill forward so President Trump can sign it before the November election. The legislation promises lasting protections for children across the nation, transcending partisan lines.
How Alaskans can help
Residents can contact Senator Dan Sullivan and Representative Nick Begich to express support for KOSA. By urging their lawmakers, Alaskans can ensure that the momentum from the Meta settlement translates into lasting, nationwide safeguards for our children.
Original reporting: Must Read Alaska (Anchorage) — read the source article.
