Time limits, midnight cutoff: Meta's new rules for kids go further, but critics say not enough

OAKLAND, California — In a landmark $18 billion settlement reached Wednesday with 48 U.S. states, Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has agreed to implement a series of stringent rules aimed at protecting children using its platforms. The agreement, which spans a decade, includes measures to verify the age of users, restrict access for those under 13, limit daily usage to two hours for those under 18, block access from midnight to 6 a.m., and conceal "like" counts.

While Meta acknowledges that the changes represent a significant step forward in child safety, critics and child advocates remain cautious, asserting that the measures alone will not suffice to address the platform's broader issues. Arturo Béjar, a former Meta engineering director, commented on the settlement, stating that it marks a "significant milestone," yet he emphasized that parents should not view Instagram as suddenly safe for children.

"The agreement has a significant flaw in that it permits Meta to define what constitutes harm," Béjar explained in an interview on Wednesday. The settlement, therefore, while a critical step, falls short of providing a comprehensive solution to the complex challenges faced by children on social media platforms.