First Thing: Meta agrees to make sweeping changes to apps for teens | Martin Belam

Meta has reached a settlement in a landmark lawsuit that will require significant changes to its Instagram and Facebook apps for teenage users. The agreement, which will end a major trial in California and potentially cost the company up to $18bn, includes the implementation of safety features such as daily usage limits and night-time usage blocks for accounts created by teens.

The changes will be set as the default option, marking a shift from Meta's previous opt-in approach to child safety. The settlement comes after California and 28 other US states sued Meta, alleging that the company deliberately designed addictive products that led to mental health issues among young people, including anxiety, depression, and suicide.

Meta's chief legal officer, CJ Mahoney, has called for industry-wide implementation of the new framework, as Meta, YouTube, TikTok, and Snap face thousands of similar lawsuits in the US. While campaigners are not satisfied with the outcome, they acknowledge that the limitations set forth in the agreement are a step towards making the platforms safer for young users.