2-Hour Limit on Facebook and Instagram: Here’s Meta’s New Plan

Rules regarding late-night Facebook and Instagram usage for children and teenagers are set to change. Meta’s new plan introduces several safety-focused changes for underage users.

The experience of using Facebook and Instagram is set to change for children in the social media landscape. Meta has faced accusations of employing features that foster social media addiction among children and teenagers. Addressing this issue, the company has agreed to a major settlement in the US, potentially involving a payment of up to $17 billion. Alongside this, the company is implementing significant changes for underage users on its platforms.

The new plan includes measures such as a default daily usage limit for users under 18, restricting app access at night, and muting notifications during school hours. Age verification processes and parental controls will also be strengthened. However, Meta has not admitted to any wrongdoing or legal liability as part of this settlement. Here is a look at Meta’s new plan for children.

Meta to Pay Billions of Dollars

Meta may pay up to $17.1 billion to resolve issues concerning children's online safety. However, the company has not acknowledged any fault or legal liability. The settlement is still awaiting final court approval. Meta had been accused of designing features that encouraged children and teenagers to spend excessive time on Facebook and Instagram. The company has denied these allegations, stating that ensuring a safe online experience for teenagers is a priority.

What is Meta’s New Plan for Children?

Under Meta’s new plan, a default daily time limit of two hours will apply to the combined usage of Facebook and Instagram for users under the age of 18. Parental permission will be required to remove or alter this limit. Additionally, time spent on both platforms will count towards this total limit.

Access to be restricted between 12 AM and 6 AM

To curb nighttime social media usage among children, access to Facebook and Instagram will be unavailable between 12 AM and 6 AM. Additionally, plans are in place to reduce notifications during school hours; notifications will be muted by default from 8 AM to 3 PM. However, direct messages and critical safety alerts will still be received. Reminders to take a break will also appear during prolonged app usage.

Age verification and parental controls to be strengthened

Meta will employ stricter technology for age verification and simplify parental controls. Extra safety measures will be implemented to protect children from harmful content. Proposals also include hiding the count of likes and reactions on posts made by minors and restricting the use of certain beauty filters.