Instagram to Block Teen Users Between Midnight and 6 AM Under New US Safety Rules

Meta is introducing stricter restrictions for teenagers on Instagram and Facebook, including an overnight access block and a two-hour daily usage limit, as part of an $18-billion settlement with US state attorneys general.

Meta has agreed to introduce new measures aimed at limiting excessive social media use among teenagers following a settlement with a bipartisan group of 52 attorneys general across US states, territories and the District of Columbia. The agreement includes several changes to how teenagers can use Instagram and Facebook.

Under the new rules, users under 18 in participating US jurisdictions will face a default restriction on most Instagram and Facebook features between 12 AM and 6 AM. Meta calls the feature Night Mode, and it is designed to prevent teenagers from spending extended periods on the platforms overnight.

During the restricted hours, teenagers will not be able to post or view their Feed, Stories, Explore or Reels. Direct messaging will remain available, allowing them to continue communicating with friends and family.

Meta will also introduce a default two-hour daily usage limit across Instagram and Facebook for users under 18. The limit will be cumulative across both platforms, while direct messages will not count towards the two-hour allowance. The restriction can only be disabled with parental permission.

The agreement also includes additional measures intended to encourage teenagers to spend less time on the platforms. Meta will introduce prompts after every 15 minutes of continuous usage, alongside existing prompts encouraging users to take breaks after extended periods of use.

Teenagers will also have their notifications muted by default between 8 AM and 3 PM. Notifications related to direct messages, account security and safety will continue to be delivered during these hours.

The settlement follows lawsuits brought by US states against Meta over allegations that Facebook and Instagram were designed to encourage excessive use among young people. The cases also involved allegations concerning children’s privacy and the collection of data from users under 13. Meta has denied wrongdoing.

As part of the agreement, Meta will pay approximately $18 billion over 10 years. About $12.7 billion is guaranteed, while the remaining amount is conditional on other major social media platforms adopting comparable protections.

For users in India, there is currently no confirmed plan for a blanket midnight-to-6 AM Instagram restriction. The new overnight restriction is part of the US settlement and applies to under-18 users covered by the agreement.

Meta already offers Instagram Teen Accounts in India, with features designed to provide stronger privacy and content protections for younger users. These include parental controls and Sleep Mode, which mutes notifications between 10 PM and 7 AM. Parents can also set specific time limits for Instagram usage.

The new measures represent one of Meta’s most significant attempts to restrict how teenagers use its social media platforms. While the current agreement is focused on the US, it could add momentum to broader discussions around age verification, parental controls and limits on social media usage among children and teenagers worldwide.