adAug 29, 2026, 06:00

Instagram addictive? Meta demands YouTube and TikTok take action too

Meta has reached an 18 billion dollar settlement with 29 U.S. states to address allegations that its platforms are addictive to minors. The agreement mandates new safety restrictions for teenagers in the U.S., though Meta has conditioned part of the payment on whether competitors like YouTube and TikTok adopt similar standards.

Meta has agreed to a settlement worth 18 billion dollars following a lawsuit filed by 29 U.S. states regarding the addictive nature of Instagram and Facebook. Under the agreement, Meta will implement safety measures for teenage users, including a two-hour daily time limit, a nighttime lockout, and the removal of certain filters. However, these changes are currently limited to the United States, sparking criticism from digital rights advocates who note the lack of global protection for minors.

A notable condition of the settlement is that 5 billion dollars of the payment is contingent on whether competitors like YouTube and TikTok implement similar safety measures. Meta has argued that it should not act alone in regulating social media usage, suggesting that industry-wide cooperation is necessary to effectively protect younger audiences. Legal experts view this as a strategic move by Meta to shift focus and share regulatory responsibilities. Meanwhile, critics believe Meta has successfully mitigated a potentially damaging legal outcome without admitting that its applications are inherently addictive.

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Based on reporting by ad. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

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