What new safety rules has Meta implemented for teens on Facebook and Instagram?

Meta has introduced safety rules that limit teens to two hours of usage per day, restrict access from midnight to 6 a.m., and mute notifications during school hours. These changes aim to protect young users in the U.S.

Why are other countries pushing for similar protections for children on social media?

Countries are pushing for similar protections due to growing concerns about the harmful impact of social media on children's health, safety, and common experiences of addiction and exposure to inappropriate content.

How does Meta plan to enforce parental supervision for teen accounts?

Meta will implement measures including requiring parental permission to change safety settings and using detection technology to identify adult supervisors. However, the company acknowledges challenges with verifying the authenticity of these supervising accounts.

Meta agrees to safety changes on Instagram and Facebook – but only in US, for now

Meta Platforms Inc.’s changes to Instagram and Facebook, part of a series of landmark settlements, will reportedly apply only to US users for now.

Published on: Aug 27, 2026, 18:23:43 IST

By HT News Desk

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In a landmark move, Meta Platforms Inc. agreed to a legal settlement of up to $18 billion and to strictly limit how teens use Facebook and Instagram. However, the changes to the social media platforms will reportedly be applicable only to users in America for now.

Meta Platforms will pay up to $18 billion over the next decade and strictly limit how teens use Facebook and Instagram under an agreement with nearly all US states. (File Photo/Bloomberg)

This crucial development comes as the impact of social media on children is getting scrutiny worldwide.

Also Read | Meta US teen safety deal exposes Australia’s under-16 social media ban struggle

What will the new safety rules include?

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The new safety rules, which will be valid only in the US for now, include limits on how long young social media users can spend on the applications and restrictions on switching off safety settings, reported Bloomberg.

Furthermore, the company has said that it will monitor those changes.

Also Read | 29 US states are suing Meta. What might it mean for the rest of the world?

Meta agrees to pay $18 billion to settle lawsuits

Meta settled a federal lawsuit alleging its platforms harmed children and that the company misled the public about safety, according to a Reuters report.

It added that Meta agreed that over the next 10 years it will limit teens to two hours a day on Facebook and Instagram and block access from midnight to 6 am, unless parents grant permission. The company will also disable most push notifications to teens during school hours, 8 am to 3 pm.

Notably, Meta will improve the measures that would prevent children from accessing content that is age-restricted.

Also Read | Meta settles $18 billion with 29 US states over child safety case

Social media impact on children

The impact of social media on young users has been a topic of discussion worldwide.

It has opened a dialogue where authorities in several countries have implemented or are working to introduce curbs for youngsters on social media platforms.

Governments around the world are attempting to curb children's access to harmful content online.

Nations move to curb children's social media access

Australia became the world's first country to ban social media for children under 16 in December.

In Italy, children under 14 require parental consent to sign up for social media accounts. Furthermore, Britain also plans to approve a ban on social media for under-16s, Reuters reported. Denmark also said in November it would ban social media for children under 15.

(with inputs from agencies)

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HT News Desk
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