Meta has agreed to an $18bn (£13.3bn) settlement with almost every US state, which includes new measures to protect children online. As part of the deal, Facebook and Instagram will introduce time limits, screen time warnings, and more parental controls for children's accounts in the US. Meta has not admitted to any wrongdoing in the settlement.
The UK government is monitoring the Meta settlement, having already announced an outright social media ban for under-16s, which will take effect in 2027. Other measures, such as curfews and restrictions during certain hours, will apply to 16 and 17-year-olds in the UK.
Meta has called on other social media firms, including TikTok and YouTube, to implement similar child safety measures. A former senior figure at Meta and TikTok, Trevor Johnson, suggested that the UK may feel empowered to request similar restrictions. Another former Meta director, Zvika Krieger, believes Meta may roll out many of these features globally.
The $18bn payout to US states, the District of Columbia, and three US territories will be distributed over a decade. New York state expects to receive at least $819m, earmarked for mental health services and education programs to address harm from social media use among young people.