Meta Platforms has agreed to make significant changes to Facebook and Instagram as part of a landmark settlement with US states over allegations that the company’s platforms harmed young users.
Under the agreement, Meta could pay up to $16.68 billion and will introduce additional protections for younger users in the United States, including daily usage limits, overnight restrictions and stronger age-assurance measures.
Meta has denied wrongdoing.
Meta agrees to new protections for younger users.
The settlement requires Meta to change parts of the user experience on Facebook and Instagram for people under 18.
Among the measures is a two-hour daily usage limit for younger users, along with restrictions preventing them from accessing the platforms between midnight and 6 a.m.
Meta will also strengthen its systems for identifying users under 13 who may have provided inaccurate birth dates when creating accounts.
The company is expected to use age-assurance technology and other signals to identify potentially underage users, while the agreement does not require every person on the platforms to submit a government ID or facial video. Independent auditors will monitor Meta’s compliance.
Settlement follows years of legal action.n
The agreement resolves claims brought by 29 US states concerning Meta’s treatment of children and teenagers.
The states alleged that Facebook and Instagram were designed in ways that encouraged excessive use and that Meta had failed to adequately address risks affecting young users. The litigation also raised allegations involving consumer protection and children’s privacy.
Before the settlement, four states, California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey, were moving forward with a federal trial in California.
The settlement ends that particular litigation without Meta admitting liability.
Age verification becomes a key issue.
One of the more complicated elements of the agreement is determining which users are under 18.
Meta has traditionally relied heavily on information supplied by users when creating accounts, but the new requirements push the company towards more active age assurance.
The company can use signals such as account information, behaviour and connections to assess whether someone may be younger than their stated age. For suspected users under 13, additional measures can be applied.
The approach is intended to improve child safety without requiring universal identity checks.
That creates a difficult balance because stronger age verification can itself involve the collection or processing of sensitive personal information.
Privacy remains part of the debate.
The age-assurance changes also intersect with US children’s privacy regulations.
Under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, companies face restrictions on collecting and using personal information from children under 13 without appropriate parental consent.
That leaves technology companies trying to solve two problems at once: identifying children more effectively while limiting the amount of personal information collected about them.
US regulators have taken steps to provide more flexibility for age-assurance systems in certain circumstances, although companies can still face differing requirements under state laws.
Meta faces other youth-safety cases.
The settlement does not resolve all of Meta’s legal challenges concerning young users.
The company has also faced separate litigation from states, school districts and individuals alleging that its products contribute to harmful outcomes for children and teenagers.
Earlier this month, a New Mexico court ordered Meta to pay $567 million in a case involving allegations that the company contributed to harms affecting young users. Meta has said it plans to appeal that decision.
Other major platforms, including TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat, are facing similar legal scrutiny.
What the settlement could mean for social media
The significance of the agreement extends beyond its financial value.
The restrictions on younger users directly affect how Facebook and Instagram can be used, while the age-assurance requirements could change how social media platforms determine a user’s age.
The settlement may also influence how other technology companies respond to growing pressure from regulators and courts over youth safety.
For Meta, the immediate issue is the financial settlement, which could reach $16.68 billion. The larger long-term consequence is the requirement to alter elements of products that have historically been built around engagement and continuous use.
The agreement therefore marks a significant shift in the way Meta must operate Facebook and Instagram for younger users, with child safety becoming a formal constraint on parts of the platform experience.
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Source: Business Connect
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg (Credit: Getty)
