Quick answer: On 26 August 2026 Meta announced a settlement with a group of US state attorneys general that commits it to default teen limits on Facebook and Instagram: a two-hour daily cap, an overnight block, school-hours quiet notifications and a non-algorithmic feed option. The rules cover US users in participating states, and they roll out in stages after a court approves the deal, so you won’t see everything this week.
Meta’s own announcement describes an agreement with attorneys general from dozens of states, the District of Columbia and US territories. The headline figure is about $18 billion over ten years, though part of that depends on whether rivals follow. Meta denied wrongdoing, saying it “has worked to protect children on its platforms,” per a factbox published by The Star.
If you live outside the US, this isn’t a legal requirement for you. Teens in the UK, EU and Australia fall under separate rules, covered in our piece on the EU KIDS Act. More in our Social Media category.
What changes for teens on Instagram and Facebook?
According to Meta’s announcement, protections for under-18s include:
- Two-hour daily limit across Facebook and Instagram combined, which teens can’t bypass without a parent’s permission.
- Night Mode blocking app access from midnight to 6am (10pm to 7am if competitors join in).
- School Mode muting notifications from 8am to 3pm, except direct messages and security alerts.
- Usage prompts at 15-minute intervals and at the 60- and 90-minute marks.
- A non-algorithmic feed as the default option, which parents can lock in.
- Autoplay that can be turned off, and that parents can require off.
- Likes and reactions hidden by default.
- Cosmetic-surgery and extreme-makeup filters blocked.
Instagram accounts would stay private by default. Parents would be notified when a teen links a second account, and they’d get alerts about suspicious interactions plus periodic usage reports.
When will these changes arrive?
Not yet. The factbox in The Star says changes phase in after the settlement is approved: about four months for the non-personalized feed, six months for broader measures, and one year for major age-assurance requirements. We haven’t seen a firm calendar date for any of them, so treat those as estimates, not deadlines.
Meta says most protections last ten years, with the time limit and Night Mode starting as five-year commitments that extend to ten if YouTube and TikTok comply.
What does the money have to do with YouTube and TikTok?
Roughly $12.7 billion is guaranteed over a decade, with the remainder, around $5 billion, tied to whether Snap, TikTok and YouTube adopt similar measures and make comparable payments. Meta’s own post puts the conditional share at about $5.3 billion. Reports differ slightly on the number of states (Meta’s post lists 52 jurisdictions, while a Benton Institute headline says 48 states), so we’d avoid quoting a single count.
Why this matters to you: if the other apps join, the same limits could spread to the platforms your teen already uses.
Do these limits apply to adults or non-US users?
No. The agreement covers teens under 18 in participating US states, territories and DC. Adults won’t see a two-hour cap. Teens elsewhere aren’t covered by this deal.
Why did the states sue Meta?
The sources we read describe the deal as a settlement of child-safety claims brought by state attorneys general, which Meta denies. They don’t spell out each state’s allegations, so we won’t characterize them. What’s clear is the outcome: the company agreed to change defaults for under-18s and to pay.
Who gets the biggest payments?
The Star’s factbox lists the largest recipients: California ($2.2 billion), New York ($1.13 billion), Texas ($1 billion), Illinois ($768 million) and New Jersey ($752 million). Meta also accrued roughly $10 billion in legal expense for the deal. Payments go to the states, not to individual families, and nothing in the sources we read suggests users will receive money.
How is this different from an age ban?
It’s a different tool. The settlement keeps teens on Meta’s apps but changes how the apps behave: time limits, quiet hours, calmer feeds. Australia and the UK, by contrast, are moving to keep under-16s off major platforms entirely. In the UK, 16- and 17-year-olds would still get overnight curfews and fewer endless-scroll features by default, a middle path closer to this US deal.
What should parents expect?
Expect the changes to arrive gradually. The age-assurance piece, the one most likely to affect sign-ups and existing accounts, is the slowest at about a year. Meta says it’s strengthening technology to catch under-13 accounts, but the sources don’t say how, so don’t assume it’s perfect.
It’s also fair to remember what a settlement is: a commitment on paper. How well the limits work in practice will depend on how Meta builds them and how closely states check.
What are the criticisms and open questions?
Three things aren’t settled in the sources we read. First, court approval: the timeline starts only after it, so any slip there pushes everything back. Second, the question of if YouTube, TikTok and Snap will sign on, since a large part of the money and the tougher Night Mode hours depend on it. Third, how teens’ ages will be confirmed, because limits only help if the app knows who’s a teen.
Those gaps matter because earlier rules have been easy to dodge. Australia’s survey found many teens still online after its ban. A default setting is helpful, but parents still have a role. A default can also be changed by a determined teen, particularly an older one, which is why the supervision tools we cover elsewhere remain useful. Think of the settlement as a safer starting point, not a finished fix.
What can parents do today?
You don’t need to wait for the court. Instagram, TikTok and YouTube all have supervision tools now, and our step-by-step guide to setting up parental controls on all three walks through them.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Meta’s teen safety settlement?
About $18 billion over ten years. Around $12.7 billion is committed, and the rest depends on YouTube, TikTok and Snap taking similar steps.
Will my teen’s Instagram have a two-hour limit?
If you live in a participating US state, it’s set to become the default after the settlement is approved and the changes roll out. Parents can grant permission to go beyond it.
Does this affect teens in the UK, EU or Australia?
Not directly. The agreement is with US states. Other regions are setting their own rules.
Can teens switch the new limits off?
The time limit can’t be bypassed without parental permission, according to Meta. Other settings, like the non-algorithmic feed, can be locked by parents.