Meta introduces stricter measures to protect minors on networks: They want to reduce ‘infinite scrolling’

According to the terms of the settlement, Meta will introduce a number of binding changes for users under 18 years of age. This includes the default two-hour daily restriction of use, which parents can disable, and the blocking of applications during the night, from midnight to six in the morning. Push notifications will be turned off during school hours, and the number of “likes” and reactions on posts will be hidden by default.

Beauty filters simulating plastic surgery are also prohibited. Teenagers will also be offered the option of chronological, non-algorithmic display of content to reduce “infinite scrolling”.

​ – Today we secured a settlement with Meta that will make social media less dangerous for our children and make a big difference for families – said California State Attorney Rob Bonta.

The financial part of the settlement foresees the payment of up to 18 billion dollars over ten years. However, a significant part of that amount, around $5.3 billion, depends on whether competitors, primarily TikTok and YouTube, will introduce similar security measures and make comparable financial contributions.

Meta called for an “industry-wide solution”, claiming that teenagers are simply switching from one app to another. The money from the settlement is intended to fund youth mental health and digital literacy programs. California should receive the largest amount, between 1.5 and 2.1 billion dollars.

The settlement abruptly ended the federal trial in Oakland, which had begun just a week earlier and was supposed to last for weeks. The lawsuit accused Meta of intentionally designing features that are addictive to children and of misleading the public about the safety of its platforms.

It was also alleged that the company illegally collected data on children under the age of 13 without parental consent. The agreement avoided the testimony of key executives, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram boss Adam Mosseri, who were on the witness list.