What Meta’s All-New Social Media Guidelines Promise to Change for Teen Users

Meta, following a recent $18 billion lawsuit, has announced new social media guidelines aimed at protecting its teen users from addiction. The changes will primarily affect users under 18 and include daily time limits, night mode controls, and age-assurance measures to prevent cheating the system. Meta has denied any wrongdoing in the lawsuit.

The new restrictions include a default limit of 2 hours of daily scrolling time for teens, which parents can extend. A night mode will block most access to content between midnight and 6 a.m., while a school mode will mute notifications between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. The platform will also warn teens about extended usage and the remaining portion of their daily limit.

To combat toxicity and obsession, Meta will default to hiding likes and reactions on posts, including the user's own. They will also restrict access to certain content, such as cosmetic surgery and extreme makeup filters. Additionally, teens will have the option to choose a non-algorithm feed that isn't personalized by Meta recommendations.

Meta is also implementing an age-assurance strategy to identify accounts belonging to minors, though details on the technology remain unclear. The company plans to establish an independent research foundation to share user data and support teen well-being, as per the terms of the settlement. However, some experts argue that these changes may not be enough to fully protect teens from the addictive nature of social media.