Facebook and Instagram owner Meta has agreed to introduce stricter restrictions on teenagers’ use of its platforms, including blocking access at night and setting a default daily usage limit.
The measures were announced on Wednesday as part of a $16.7bn settlement reached with US states over allegations that Meta intentionally designed its platforms to encourage young users to spend more time on them.
Under the agreement, teenagers will face a default two-hour daily limit on their combined use of Meta’s family of apps.
The company will also restrict their access to its platforms during designated nighttime hours.
The settlement follows claims that Meta misled the public about the potential risks its services pose to young people and unlawfully collected personal data from children under the age of 13.
Meta’s latest commitments are aimed at strengthening protections for younger users and addressing concerns over excessive social media use among teenagers.
