Kids will be kids, and that’s the biggest risk with Meta’s new safeguards

In a landmark deal with state attorneys general across the U.S., Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion and implement design changes such as limiting the amount of time users under 18 can spend scrolling on its apps. | BLOOMBERG

Aug 27, 2026

How does a company know for sure if a kid is a kid on the internet?

That’s the biggest challenge facing Meta Platforms for its sweeping new safeguards to protect teens on Instagram and Facebook. The guardrails can only work as well as the company’s ability to accurately identify a user’s age, and young people around the world have repeatedly found ways to get past restrictions and other safety measures online.

In a landmark deal with state attorneys general across the U.S., Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion and implement design changes such as limiting the amount of time users under 18 can spend scrolling on its apps. The company also said it would block them from using the platforms overnight, prevent them from seeing push notifications during school hours and turn off the numbers of “likes” visible on posts by default.

In a time of both misinformation and too much information,
quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.