Meta introduces new limits for young users, drawing mixed reactions from US parents

Meta has announced new restrictions for its younger users following a landmark settlement of up to $18 billion in a child-safety lawsuit involving 51 U.S. states and territories. These changes, primarily impacting users under 18 on Facebook and Instagram, include a default two-hour daily time limit across both platforms, which can only be altered with parental consent. Additionally, Meta will implement a "Night Mode" blocking access between midnight and 6 a.m., except for direct messages, and mute notifications during school hours from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. under a "School Mode." The company also plans to introduce prompts for continuous usage, offer options for non-algorithmic feeds, hide "like" counts, and strengthen age verification and parental controls.

Despite these comprehensive reforms, which also involve Meta paying a significant sum over ten years to address harms caused by its platforms, reactions from US parents and experts remain mixed. While some appreciate the new safeguards and increased parental control, many believe the measures do not go far enough. Critics express concerns that teens could potentially bypass some restrictions or simply shift their engagement to other social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube, which Meta is now urging to adopt similar protective measures. The settlement aims to establish a new industry standard for youth online safety, with some provisions becoming stricter if other major social media companies follow suit.