Families across the United States will soon see tighter safeguards on Instagram and Facebook after Meta reached a settlement with a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general. The agreement, announced Wednesday, mandates a series of new restrictions for teen users, aiming to protect children’s well‑being while giving parents concrete tools to monitor online activity.
Key limits for teens
By default, any user under 18 will be limited to two hours of combined Instagram and Facebook use each day. The two‑hour cap applies to both apps together, and teens cannot disable the restriction without a parent’s explicit permission. Direct messages are exempt, allowing continued communication with friends and family.
From midnight to 6 a.m., the platforms will block access to most features, including Feed, Stories, Explore and Reels. Messaging will remain available so teens can still stay in touch. Additionally, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., notifications will be automatically muted, except for direct‑message alerts, security warnings and safety notices.
Parental‑supervision tools
Meta will expand its parental‑supervision suite. Parents will receive alerts when a teen links a secondary account, when suspicious interactions occur, and periodic summaries of daily usage. The company also plans to strengthen technology that identifies accounts belonging to children under 13 and to flag accounts that appear to be older users misrepresenting their age.
Parents may require teens to use a non‑personalized feed, preventing algorithmic recommendations from shaping what appears on the screen. They can also enforce settings that disable autoplay, forcing teens to tap or swipe before each video plays.
Changes to likes and filters
To reduce social pressure, the default view will hide the number of likes and reactions on a teen’s own posts and on others’ posts. Meta will also block access to cosmetic‑surgery filters and “extreme makeup” filters that could promote unrealistic body images.
Implementation and duration
The new requirements will automatically apply to users in participating states and territories once a judge approves the settlement. Meta says the majority of the measures are intended to remain in effect for ten years, providing a long‑term framework for safer teen engagement online.
What parents can do now
Parents should review the upcoming prompts that will appear after every 15 minutes of continuous screen time and the reminders at the 60‑minute and 90‑minute marks. By familiarizing themselves with the new parental controls, families can better guide teens toward balanced digital habits while preserving the ability to communicate when needed.
This settlement reflects a growing consensus among state leaders that social‑media companies must take responsibility for the impact of their platforms on young users. While the changes are national in scope, the practical effect will be felt in households everywhere, from suburban neighborhoods to rural communities.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
