Meta has reached a settlement worth $18 billion in US litigation over harms from social media addiction among minors. The agreement pairs monetary compensation with obligations to change product design.

The central provision caps daily use of Facebook and Instagram by minors in the United States at two hours. Other reported terms include suppressing notifications overnight, turning off infinite scroll by default on teen accounts, and strengthening age verification.

The litigation consolidated claims brought by several state governments, school districts and individual families. Plaintiffs argued the platforms were deliberately designed to extend time spent on them, worsening depression, sleep loss and academic decline among adolescents.

Meta has maintained that research establishing causation is insufficient. Settlements generally do not constitute an admission of liability, and the same condition is reported to apply here.

Whether the measures will extend beyond the United States has not been determined. With the European Union and several Asian governments tightening protections for minors, however, the terms could effectively spread as an international benchmark.

South Korea and Taiwan have both debated limits on adolescent smartphone use. Views differ on whether the emphasis should fall on regulation or on arrangements within families.

The settlement takes effect only after court approval.