Meta is set to introduce significant changes to how teens use Facebook and Instagram following a major legal settlement in the United States. The agreement, which has received court approval, includes a payment of up to approximately $1.8 billion and requires Meta to implement a range of new protections for users under 18.

It is important to note that these changes apply to the United States and the states and territories covered by the agreement. They do not represent a global change to Facebook and Instagram, and there is currently no indication that the same restrictions will apply in Israel.

Two Hours a Day - Across Both Apps

The most significant change is a two-hour daily usage limit, shared between Facebook and Instagram.

For example, a teen who spends 90 minutes on Instagram would have only 30 minutes remaining for Facebook that day. The limit can be extended or bypassed with parental approval.

What Happens After Midnight?

Between midnight and 6:00 a.m., access to key features of Facebook and Instagram will be restricted. Teens will not be able to browse their feeds or view Stories, Reels, or recommended content.

There is one important exception: direct messages will not count toward the daily time limit. Teens will still be able to send and receive private messages during nighttime hours and after reaching their daily usage limit.

“School Mode” During School Hours

Between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., notifications will be muted by default through a special setting designed for school hours.

The goal is to reduce distractions from social media during the school day. Direct messages and notifications related to account security and safety will still be delivered.

Reminders After 15 Minutes

Meta will also introduce additional usage reminders. Teens will receive a reminder after every 15 minutes of continuous use, as well as when they reach 60 and 90 minutes of use during the day.

The goal is to encourage teens to take breaks and become more aware of how much time they spend on the platforms.

Less Personalized Content

Teens will be able to choose a feed that is not personalized through Meta’s recommendation systems. Parents will also be able to make this the default setting on a teen’s account.

Users will also be able to turn off video autoplay.

Like and comment counts will be hidden by default for teen users. Meta will also restrict access to filters that simulate cosmetic procedures or extreme makeup.

Stronger Age Verification

The agreement also requires Meta to strengthen its age-detection systems.

The company will work to identify accounts belonging to children under 13 and ensure that users between 13 and 17 receive the teen experience and protections intended for their age group, including when an older age was entered when the account was created.

More Tools for Parents

Parents will receive additional tools to monitor their children’s use of the platforms.

These include alerts when a teen links another account, information about interactions with potentially suspicious accounts, and periodic updates about usage patterns and safety settings.

What About TikTok and YouTube?

One of the most notable parts of the agreement involves Meta’s competitors.

Meta is calling on TikTok and YouTube to adopt similar restrictions, arguing that teens could simply move to another platform if only Facebook and Instagram impose tighter limits.

If TikTok and YouTube adopt similar restrictions, Meta’s requirements could become even stricter: the usage limit would drop to one hour per app, while nighttime restrictions would expand to 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.

It is important to emphasize that TikTok and YouTube have not joined the agreement at this stage.

When Will the Changes Take Effect?

The changes are expected to be introduced gradually. Some requirements, including the non-personalized feed, are expected to be implemented within months, while additional measures related to age verification and teen protections will be rolled out later.

Most of the agreement’s provisions are expected to remain in effect for several years, with some of the key restrictions initially set to remain in place for five years.

What Does This Mean for Teens?

For teens in the United States, the changes could be significant: less time scrolling, nighttime restrictions, fewer notifications during school hours, less personalized content, and expanded parental controls.

For now, however, these measures are part of a U.S. settlement and do not automatically change how Facebook and Instagram operate for teens in Israel.