Big changes coming to teen Facebook, Instagram accounts following landmark settlement

Ohio is expected to receive more than $319 million as part of a massive $17.1 billion multistate settlement with Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram.

Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson says the agreement is aimed at better protecting children and teens on social media.

Under the proposed settlement, Meta would be required to make major changes to Instagram and Facebook for younger users.

Those changes include a combined two-hour daily time limit across the two platforms, along with mandatory pauses after 15 minutes of continuous use and again after 60 and 90 minutes.

Teen users would also be blocked from accessing the apps between midnight and 6 a.m., and push notifications would be turned off on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the school year.

The agreement would also require stronger age verification and parental controls, along with tighter restrictions on content involving bullying, eating disorders, suicide and self-harm.

Some social-comparison features would be disabled for younger users as well, including visible “like” counts and certain beauty or cosmetic filters. Teens would also have the option to use a more basic feed rather than one heavily personalized by Meta’s algorithm.

The settlement stems from claims that Meta designed its platforms with features intended to keep young users engaged and addicted, while misleading the public about potential risks to children and teens.

Nearly all state attorneys general have signed onto the agreement, which still needs court approval. If approved, the new safeguards would be independently reviewed to determine whether they are actually working.