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Meta sets two-hour daily limits and hides likes for teens
The changes follow an $18 billion settlement with US states and include muting push notifications during school hours and removing video autoplay.
Meta has rolled out new restrictions for teenagers across Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, including a daily two-hour time limit and the removal of video autoplay, as part of a child-safety settlement with US states. BBC Business reports the package also hides the number of likes a post receives and bans extreme make-up filters, alongside changes to age verification and parental controls.
Meta said it will appoint an independent auditor to check the measures are implemented and maintained. BBC Business also notes the rollout has drawn mixed reactions from parents, who say they want to balance safety concerns with the reality that teens often rely on social media to stay connected with peers.
One Houston mother, Elizabeth Cardner, described the limits as a sign of rising awareness and said her 14-year-old believes the rules could encourage more real-life interactions and reduce what she sees as fake or edited content. Cardner said completely banning social media would likely leave her daughters out, adding that there is no simple way to protect children without tradeoffs.
Another parent near Boston, Andria Rose, called the changes “fantastic” but said she still feels exposed to risks, arguing that limiting access will not fully stop harmful content. BBC Business reports the settlement was announced on Wednesday amid ongoing scrutiny of social media’s effects on children.