Do Instagram & Facebook have a bedtime now?

Meta has reached a landmark $17.1 billion settlement to resolve a multi-state lawsuit alleging the company intentionally designed Facebook and Instagram to keep children addicted to the platforms, while imposing new restrictions on teenage usage. Under the agreement, users under 18 will face a default two-hour daily limit on Instagram and Facebook, with exceptions for parents.

Access will be blocked between midnight and 6 a.m., and notifications will be reduced overnight and during school hours. Meta will also alter the platforms to reduce endless-scrolling and remove likes and reaction counts for minors. The company will improve age verification systems and parental controls, offer non-personalized feeds, and submit to independent compliance monitoring.

The settlement represents a significant blow to Meta's reputation and strategy, but is unlikely to threaten its financial health. The lawsuit, which began in 2023, accused Meta of knowingly designing its platforms to cause mental and physical harm to children while downplaying those risks. The case has raised broader concerns about whether social media companies deliberately build addictive features.