Meta Settles US Child Safety Lawsuit, Sparks Scrutiny Over Indian User Protections

31 Aug 2026, 8:00 am · 12d ago · 1 min read · Inc42

Meta has agreed to pay approximately $18 billion to settle US lawsuits accusing Facebook and Instagram of harming minors. Under the agreement, Meta will enforce safety features in the US, including a two-hour daily limit for users under 18, midnight-to-6 AM access restrictions, muted notifications during school hours, hidden like counts, and a non-algorithmic feed option. However, the settlement lacks international mandates, leaving Indian users without mandatory protections despite India being Meta’s largest user base. Legal and cyber policy experts are now urging Indian regulators to mandate similar statutory product safety designs.