Meta's New Rules: Under 18s Face Time Limits on Insta, FB

Meta has agreed to implement sweeping changes aimed at enhancing the safety of minors on Instagram and Facebook, following a substantial $18 billion settlement with 29 U.S. states. These new protections, set to automatically apply to users under 18, include a mandatory daily two-hour time limit.

This time limit, cumulative across both platforms, can only be disabled with parental consent. Once reached, teens will be temporarily locked out. Additionally, a default 'Night Mode' will block access between midnight and 6 a.m., while users can opt for a non-algorithmic, chronological feed.

Further restrictions encompass prompts every 15 minutes of continuous use, the disabling of autoplay by default, and the hiding of like and reaction counts for underage users. Meta is also strengthening its age verification technology to ensure appropriate protections are applied, even if users provide adult birth dates.