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Meta just agreed to pay up to $17.1 billion to settle claims that Facebook and Instagram harmed kids and teens. It’s a huge number, for sure. but the more interesting part for parents might be what’s going to change on our kids’ phones.
At a Glance:
- Meta has agreed to a landmark settlement over claims that Instagram and Facebook harmed kids and teens.
- New York could receive up to $1.15 billion from the deal.
- Kids under 18 will face new screen time limits, quieter notifications, and no visible like counts.
- Parents will get stronger controls, including the option to turn off algorithm-driven feeds.
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The Meta Settlement
New York is set to get somewhere between $819 million and $1.15 billion out of the deal, according to Attorney General Letitia James’ office. That money isn’t going straight into our personal pockets, though. Instead, it will go toward things like mental health services, education programs, and other efforts to help address the effects of heavy social media use on young people.
This all began back in 2023. AG James and a group of other attorneys general sued Meta, arguing the company built features like infinite scroll, constant notifications, and engagement-driven algorithms specifically to hook kids, and even worse, that Meta knew the risks but kept doing it anyway. Meta isn’t admitting to any wrongdoing as part of the deal, but the settlement will still bring big changes for how kids can use Instagram and Facebook.
What Is Changing for Kids
There are quite a few changes to make the platforms safer for kids:
- Screen time limits. Kids under 18 will automatically get a two-hour daily limit on Facebook and Instagram, and the apps will also restrict late-night use.
- No more like counts. Teens won’t be able to see how many likes or reactions their posts get anymore.
- Quieter notifications. Fewer alerts during school hours and at night
- Fewer filters. Some of the filters that alter kids’ appearance will no longer be available to minors.
- Easier reporting. Teens will have better tools to flag content that’s harmful or upsetting.
Parents Get More Say
Meta is also improving age verification and giving parents more tools to manage their kids’ accounts, along with extra safeguards to help keep kids under 13 off the platforms in the first place. On top of that, families will be able to turn off the algorithm-driven feed entirely, so parents (or older kids or teens) can choose to see content that isn’t designed to keep them scrolling for as long as possible.
The settlement still needs court approval, and the new protections will roll out gradually, not all at once.
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