Meta has agreed to implement enhanced measures to verify the ages of users on its social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, as part of an $18 billion settlement with multiple states. The agreement, announced on August 26, aims to reduce children’s access to social media and address legal claims that the platforms were designed to be addictive for young users.
Currently, Meta prohibits children under 13 from creating accounts on its platforms, while allowing teens limited access. However, the company has acknowledged that some younger children circumvent these rules by providing false birthdates during sign-up. Traditionally, Meta has not required users to submit formal proof of age, such as government-issued IDs. Instead, the company relies on contextual signals—like posts celebrating birthdays or academic milestones—to identify underage accounts. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified earlier this year that more effective age verification could come from device manufacturers, referencing a Texas law that mandates parental consent for minors downloading age-restricted apps.
Under the terms of the settlement, Meta must introduce broader protections for users under age 18. These include setting daily limits on usage, disabling push notifications during nighttime hours, and strengthening age verification, particularly for children under 13. While the settlement does not mandate the collection of photo IDs or video selfies, it requires Meta to conduct more rigorous reviews — such as inspecting the friend networks of the youngest users to root out underage accounts. The company is also obligated to simplify the process for users to report suspected underage accounts. An independent auditor will oversee Meta’s efforts to enforce age restrictions.
Meta is permitted, on a temporary basis, to use data associated with accounts identified as belonging to children in order to train artificial intelligence systems aimed at improving age detection, mirroring current methods employed to monitor teenagers’ accounts.
The settlement navigates complex legal challenges, particularly those posed by the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) of 1998. The federal statute prohibits the collection of personal data from children under 13 without parental consent, complicating efforts to verify ages through personal information such as IDs or biometric data. Meta and other social media companies have argued that COPPA limits their ability to enforce stricter age verification. Critics contend that these companies have invoked the law as a hurdle to avoid responsibility for underage users on their platforms.
In a related legal development, a New Mexico court recently ruled that COPPA restricts requiring children to submit certain personal data for age verification but ordered Meta to enhance its age assurance practices to the extent permitted by law. The $18 billion settlement employs a similar balance between stronger protection measures and compliance with privacy regulations.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which enforces COPPA at the federal level, issued guidance earlier this year indicating it would not penalize companies that collect personal information solely for age verification purposes. However, legal experts note that state authorities retain the power to bring enforcement actions independently of the FTC.
Several states had filed privacy-related lawsuits against Meta but withdrew those claims as part of the settlement agreement. The deal represents a significant step toward addressing ongoing concerns about children’s exposure to social media platforms while navigating complex privacy laws.