Nbcdfw iconNbcdfwAug 27, 2026 ~1 min source read

Meta's new rules for kids go further after settlement, but critics say not enough

Kids under 18 will soon see a host of changes to their Instagram and Facebook experiences thanks to a historic $18 billion settlement Meta Platforms reached Wednesday with 48 U.S. Meta said the new safeguards will only apply in the United States, with most in place for 10 years.

Meta's new rules for kids go further after settlement, but critics say not enough

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Kids under 18 will soon see a host of changes to their Instagram and Facebook experiences thanks to a historic $18 billion settlement Meta Platforms reached Wednesday with 48 U.S.

Meta said the new safeguards will only apply in the United States, with most in place for 10 years.

While acknowledging the changes go further than Meta has ever gone when it comes to child safety, critics and children's advocates cautioned it will not solve its myriad problems overnight.

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Kids under 18 will soon see a host of changes to their Instagram and Facebook experiences thanks to a historic $18 billion settlement Meta Platforms reached Wednesday with 48 U.S. Meta said the new safeguards will only apply in the United States, with most in place for 10 years. While acknowledging the changes go further than Meta has ever gone when it comes to child safety, critics and children's advocates cautioned it will not solve its myriad problems overnight.

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  • Arturo Béjar, a former Meta engineering director, said the settlement is a "significant milestone," but parents should not see Instagram as suddenly safe for children.

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