Meta Reaches $18B Teen Safety Settlement With State AGs
August 26, 2026
Meta has agreed to pay up to $18 billion in a settlement with U.S. state attorneys general over teen safety on Instagram and Facebook.
The teen safety settlement, announced on August 26, goes beyond money. It locks in a broad set of default protections for users under 18. Most settlement terms run for 10 years, while the daily time limit and Night Mode initially run for five.
The deal also contains an unusual mechanism designed to pull rival platforms into the same framework.
A Framework With 52 Attorneys General, Pending Court Approval
The agreement covers 52 attorneys general across U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia, and resolves litigation brought by state attorneys general in 2023 along with related claims. According to TechCrunch, the states alleged that Meta designed its platforms to addict children and collected children’s data in violation of COPPA (the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act). Meta did not admit wrongdoing.
Engadget reported that the trial had begun in August 2026 and that the settlement came just before Instagram head Adam Mosseri was due back on the stand. The agreement received the judge’s approval on August 27, according to a Meta update, and Meta expects roughly $10 billion in legal expenses in the third quarter.
What Changes for Teens on Instagram and Facebook
The centerpiece is a default two-hour daily limit, cumulative across Facebook and Instagram, that only a parent can relax. Time spent on direct messages, in settings, or watching long-form content of 22 minutes or more does not count toward the cap, and reaching the cap cuts off only the covered features. A “Night Mode” blocks access between midnight and 6 a.m. — with messaging and settings still reachable — while a “School Mode” mutes push notifications from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with exceptions for messaging, account security, and platform integrity.
Other measures include hiding like and reaction counts by default, blocking filters that mimic cosmetic surgery or extreme makeup, usage prompts every 15 minutes, an option to make a non-personalized feed the default, autoplay controls, and more investment in age-assurance technology to catch minors who sign up with adult birth dates.
Here are the main protections at a glance.
| Protection | What changes | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Daily time limit | 2 hours per day across Facebook and Instagram by default. Only a parent can relax the limit. Messaging, settings, and long-form video or audio of at least 22 minutes are excluded. | First 5 years* |
| Night Mode | Access restricted from midnight to 6 a.m.; messaging and settings remain available. | First 5 years* |
| School Mode | Push notifications muted from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday–Friday, Aug. 15–June 15; messaging, account-security, and platform-integrity notifications are exempt. | 10 years |
| Hidden like counts | Like and reaction counts hidden by default. | 10 years |
| Filter restrictions | Filters that mimic cosmetic surgery or extreme makeup are blocked. | 10 years |
| Usage prompts | A reminder after every 15 minutes of continuous use. | 10 years |
| Feed options | An option to make a non-personalized feed the default. | 10 years |
| Age assurance | More investment in technology to detect minors who sign up with adult birth dates. | 10 years |
*If the rest of the industry adopts equivalent measures and that adoption remains in effect, a stricter second phase applies within the 10-year term: a one-hour daily limit per app (up to two hours across Meta platforms) and Night Mode from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Why 30% of the Money Depends on Industry Adoption
About $5.3 billion — 30% of the settlement — is contingent. The formal agreement designates Snap, TikTok, and YouTube as “Core Industry Members” and ties the payout to industry-wide adoption of equivalent time limits, Night Mode, and age-assurance measures; members with annual profits above $10 billion must also take on equivalent or greater monetary obligations. Meta published an open letter urging TikTok and YouTube to adopt the framework, with Chief Legal Officer C.J. Mahoney arguing that “we need an industry-wide solution.”
The structure effectively turns Meta’s legal obligations into a bid for an industry-wide teen safety standard. Regulators elsewhere are also reshaping how platforms are built for minors: Australia’s restriction on social media accounts for users under 16 took effect in December 2025, requiring platforms including Instagram and Facebook to take reasonable steps to keep under-16s off their services.
What to Watch Next
The settlement received court approval on August 27, according to Meta. Whether Snap, TikTok, and YouTube adopt the required safety protections — and whether those with annual profits above $10 billion take on the accompanying monetary obligations — will determine both the remaining 30% payout and the framework’s reach.
The time limit and Night Mode obligations run for five years initially. If industry-wide adoption occurs and remains in effect within the 10-year term, a stricter second phase kicks in: a one-hour daily limit per app, up to two hours across Meta platforms, and Night Mode from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. How the rest of the industry responds will shape both how strict the rules get and how long they last.
Sources
Meta – An Open Letter to TikTok and YouTube to Join Us in Supporting Teens
California Department of Justice – Final Settlement Agreement (PDF)
eSafety Commissioner – Social media age restrictions
Engadget – Meta will pay up to $18 billion to settle states’ lawsuit alleging harms to young users
