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Meta’s $18B Deal Brings Kid-Safety Rules, But What About the Bottom Line?

Meta agreed to an $18 billion multistate settlement over youth mental health, committing to a suite of kid-safety changes (including a two-hour daily limit for ages 13–17 on Facebook/Instagram, night mode from midnight to 6 a.m., school mode, auto-play off, removal of like counts by default, and a non-algorithmic feed option) overseen by an independent auditor and implemented within six months. The $18B payout will be paid over 10 years and could be reduced to about 70% if TikTok and YouTube don’t join with similar changes. Meta did not admit wrongdoing; safety advocates argue the steps are progress but not transformative, while analysts note the settlement could impact revenue if teen usage drops, though Meta’s broader fundamentals remain strong and the case could spur similar moves by other platforms and potential federal action.