The recent landmark ruling against Meta in the United States was the result of a lawsuit filed in 2023 which went to trial in August 2026. It was brought by nearly fifty attorneys general, school districts and families, who alleged that the company’s social media platforms, which include Instagram and Facebook, pose serious risks to mental health.

The case ended in a $18 billion dollar settlement, and imposed direct structural changes on the way Instagram and Facebook operate. These could eventually extend to other platforms and social media networks, according to Attorney General William Tong.

Here, we will look at the scientific basis for each of the new measures.

Automatic, temporary blocks

Firstly, the agreement sets a limit of two hours’ use per day for under-18s, alongside regular reminders to encourage breaks and more self-regulated use.

Scientific research supports the general idea of limiting time spent on social media and encouraging breaks while using it. However, this does not make the two-hour limit a universal medical threshold, nor are the regular reminders scientifically established intervals.

Some experiment-based studies suggest that temporarily reducing usage may improve certain aspects of wellbeing, partly through improved sleep. However, the effects also depend on how and why social media is........

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