Meta rolls out new safety features for teenagers on Facebook

April 8, 2025

THESE STRICTER ACCOUNT SETTINGS. ON THE PHONE, ROBLOX, TIKTOK LIKE NONSTOP NONSTOP SCROLLING ON SOCIAL MEDIA ALONG WITH INAPPROPRIATE CONTENT ARE SOME OF THE REASONS META SAYS IT EXPANDED STRICTER GUIDELINES FOR TEEN ACCOUNTS ON FACEBOOK AND MESSENGER. IF YOU’RE 13 TO 18, YOU AUTOMATICALLY HAVE MESSAGING RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE, CONTENT RESTRICTIONS, A DAILY LIMIT OF 60 MINUTES PER DAY, AND ALSO SLEEP MODE AT NIGHT. THESE CHANGES COME AMID A LAWSUIT FILED BY NEW HAMPSHIRE AGAINST FACEBOOK’S PARENT COMPANY, ALLEGING THE COMPANY IS, QUOTE, KNOWINGLY USING ADDICTIVE DESIGN FEATURES AND ALGORITHMS ON ITS PLATFORMS TO ENCOURAGE COMPULSIVE USE BY TEENAGERS CAUSING HARM TO THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. META WOULD NOT COMMENT ON THE LAWSUIT TUESDAY. THEY DID SAY PART OF THE ROLLOUT INCLUDES SENSITIVE CONTENT CONTROL, AND THAT IS MEANT TO HELP LIMIT THE TYPES OF SENSITIVE CONTENT THAT TEENS MAY SEE, INCLUDING THINGS LIKE VIOLENCE OR OTHER THINGS THAT ARE AGE INAPPROPRIATE. SOME PEOPLE WE SPOKE WITH AGREED WITH THE CHANGES. I THINK A LOT OF KIDS TEND TO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ONLINE, AND THAT’S SUCH AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTAL AGE THAT IT’S PROBABLY BETTER. OTHERS SAID KIDS WILL FIND WAYS TO GET PAST THE RESTRICTIONS. THEY CAN TRY IT. I’M NOT SURE IT’S GOING TO BE VERY GOOD. THERE’S THERE’S GOING TO BE QUITE A LOT OF WORKAROUNDS. THESE TEEN ACCOUNT CHANGES ROLLED OUT ON INSTAGRAM LAST FALL. AS FOR THE STATE’

Meta rolls out new safety features for teenagers on Facebook

Social media company Meta is expanding its safety features for younger users after facing criticism and lawsuits about addictive and harmful content.Some of the changes younger users will see include content and time restrictions.Meta said teenagers’ accounts will automatically be enrolled in the stricter account settings. Company officials said it expanded the features in Facebook and Messenger because of teenagers’ nonstop scrolling on social media and the risks of inappropriate content.”If you’re 13 to 18, you automatically have messaging restrictions in place, content restrictions, a daily limit of 60 minutes per day and also sleep mode at night,” said Jennifer Hanley, North American head of safety for Meta.>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<The changes come while Meta is facing a lawsuit filed by New Hampshire that alleges the company is “knowingly using addictive design features and algorithms on its platforms … to encourage compulsive use by teenagers, causing harm to their mental health and well-being.”Meta would not comment on the lawsuit Tuesday. Hanley said part of the rollout includes sensitive content control.”And that is meant to help limit the types of sensitive content that teens may see, including things like violence or other things that are age-inappropriate,” she said.Some Granite Staters said they were happy to see the changes. “A lot of kids tend to spend too much time online, and that’s such an important developmental age,” said Adnan Livadic, of Manchester.Others said they believe teens will find ways to get past the restrictions.Changes for teenagers’ accounts rolled out on Instagram in the fall.Jury selection is scheduled to begin next year in New Hampshire’s lawsuit against Meta.

Social media company Meta is expanding its safety features for younger users after facing criticism and lawsuits about addictive and harmful content.

Some of the changes younger users will see include content and time restrictions.

Meta said teenagers’ accounts will automatically be enrolled in the stricter account settings. Company officials said it expanded the features in Facebook and Messenger because of teenagers’ nonstop scrolling on social media and the risks of inappropriate content.

“If you’re 13 to 18, you automatically have messaging restrictions in place, content restrictions, a daily limit of 60 minutes per day and also sleep mode at night,” said Jennifer Hanley, North American head of safety for Meta.

>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<

The changes come while Meta is facing a lawsuit filed by New Hampshire that alleges the company is “knowingly using addictive design features and algorithms on its platforms … to encourage compulsive use by teenagers, causing harm to their mental health and well-being.”

Meta would not comment on the lawsuit Tuesday. Hanley said part of the rollout includes sensitive content control.

“And that is meant to help limit the types of sensitive content that teens may see, including things like violence or other things that are age-inappropriate,” she said.

Some Granite Staters said they were happy to see the changes.

“A lot of kids tend to spend too much time online, and that’s such an important developmental age,” said Adnan Livadic, of Manchester.

Others said they believe teens will find ways to get past the restrictions.

Changes for teenagers’ accounts rolled out on Instagram in the fall.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin next year in New Hampshire’s lawsuit against Meta.