Meta has announced a series of protection measures for users under the age of 18 on Facebook and Instagram, including a two-hour daily usage limit, a night mode restricting access between midnight and 06h00, a school mode suspending notifications from 08h00 to 15h00, and enhanced controls over content and contact with adults — all stemming from a judicial settlement in the United States that requires the company to pay up to US$18 billion.
The rules, which are still subject to court approval, will be applied automatically to teenagers in the states covered by the agreement and are expected to remain in force, in most cases, for ten years. Meta also intends to strengthen parental control tools, enabling parents to receive alerts about account usage and interactions with users flagged as potentially suspicious, while making certain safety measures mandatory.
Among the changes is the option for teenagers to use a feed without algorithm-driven personalised recommendations and to disable the autoplay of videos and other content. By default, the number of likes and reactions on posts will no longer be visible to younger users.
The company also announced additional restrictions on content deemed inappropriate for certain age groups, including limitations on the use of filters related to makeup and cosmetic surgery. Meta further intends to improve age verification systems, keep teenage accounts private by default, and make it more difficult for minors to be contacted by adults considered suspicious.
Another measure involves the expansion of protection mechanisms during specific periods of the day. Night mode will block access to the platforms between midnight and 06h00, while school mode will suspend notifications between 08h00 and 15h00, with exceptions for alerts deemed important, such as safety-related issues.
According to Meta, the settlement seeks to encourage other platforms used by minors — including YouTube and TikTok — to adopt similar measures. The company acknowledged that some rules could be strengthened if other companies in the sector adopt the same safety standards.
The settlement follows legal action brought by several US states against Meta, which accused the company of having designed Facebook and Instagram in a manner intended to foster addiction among children and teenagers, and of misleading users regarding the safety of its platforms. The trial began last week and concluded with an agreement requiring Meta to pay up to US$18 billion to 48 states, Washington D.C., and the US territories of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
The largest share is expected to go to California, which could receive approximately US$2.2 billion, while Texas and New York are each set to receive more than US$1 billion. Meta denied any wrongdoing despite accepting the settlement, which still requires approval from federal judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/09/01/trends/meta-anuncia-novas-medidas-de-proteccao-para-criancas-no-facebook-e-instagram-apos-acordo-judicial-nos-eua/
