Time limits and a midnight cutoff: Meta's new rules for kids go further, but critics say not enough

Meta Platforms reached a historic $18 billion settlement with 48 U.S. states, which will drive major changes to how Instagram and Facebook operate for users under 18. The deal increases regulatory and privacy overhang for Meta as child-targeted protections and product constraints are expected to tighten. While the headline is material for legal/regulatory risk, it is less likely to be market-wide immediately.