GoKawiilMeta to impose two-hour daily limits and midnight lockouts for teens under $18B settlement
As part of an $18 billion settlement with 29 U.S. states over children's online safety, Meta agreed to major restrictions on how teens use Instagram and Facebook. The changes include a cumulative two-hour daily time limit across both apps, a default midnight-to-6 a.m. usage block, options for a non-algorithmic default feed, and usage-break prompts every 15 minutes, with most measures required to stay in place for a decade pending court approval.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
This marks one of the largest enforceable commitments a major platform has made to curb teen screen time and algorithmic exposure, potentially reshaping industry norms for youth safety design. Because the restrictions are legally binding for ten years, they could set a template other regulators and states use to pressure competitors like TikTok and Snapchat into similar changes.
- Teens face a combined two-hour daily cap across Instagram and Facebook, enforced even across multiple accounts.
- A new default Night Mode will fully block teen access between midnight and 6 a.m.
- Most changes must remain in place for 10 years under the settlement, pending judicial approval.
TP-Link Deco Mesh WiFi System — If Meta's new two-hour teen time limits have you thinking about screen time at home, a Deco mesh system lets you set profiles, schedules and bedtime pauses for each kid's devices across the whole house, not just one app. It also blankets the home in stronger Wi-Fi, so the parental controls come as a bonus to better coverage.
See TP-Link Deco Mesh WiFi System on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: techcrunch.com — Aisha Malik, 2026-08-26
Published there as: “Meta agrees to sweeping changes to restrict kids’ access to its apps as part of settlement with states”
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