Changes to Facebook, Instagram are key part of Meta's $17B settlement with the states over harm to teens

Meta has agreed to pay up to $17 billion over 10 years to settle claims by a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general who alleged the company deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram to hook children, misled the public about harms, and improperly collected data from children under 13. The settlement requires significant product changes including default two-hour daily time limits for users under 18, blocks on app access between midnight and 6 a.m., muted notifications during school hours, usage prompts every 15 minutes, hidden like counts, and restrictions on cosmetic surgery filters. While the financial penalty amounts to roughly 1% of Meta's expected revenue over the same period, the design changes represent the substantive core of the agreement, compelling Meta to redesign its platforms in ways that change default user experiences rather than simply adding optional settings. An independent auditor will review compliance for five years, and the settlement includes provisions requiring YouTube and TikTok to adopt comparable protections to unlock the remaining $5.3 billion. The settlement does not resolve separate ongoing cases in Los Angeles and New Mexico.

(Source：Dt Next)