Teens won't be able to see certain posts on Facebook, Instagram: What Meta's changes mean

Teens on Facebook and Instagram may soon find that some content that once proliferated on their feeds is no longer visible to them – even if they search for it.

Meta, the parent company of the social media platforms, revealed Tuesday it will begin restricting some of what young users can see on Facebook and Instagram. The announcement comes as the company faces mounting pressure from regulators who claim its social media sites are addictive and harmful to the mental health of younger users.

In a blog post, Meta said the measures, which will roll out in the coming weeks, are designed “to give teens more age-appropriate experiences on our apps." The protections will make it more difficult for teens to view and search for sensitive content such as suicide, self-harm and eating disorders, according to Meta.

Here's what to know about the changes:

Meta faces federal lawsuit related to young users

Meta has come under fire in recent months in both the United States and Europe over allegations that its apps are addictive and have fueled a youth mental health crisis.

In October, more than 40 states filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming that the social media company profited from the advertising revenue gained by intentionally designing features on Instagram and Facebook to maximize the time teens and children spent on the platforms.

Coming after a two-year multistate investigation, the lawsuit cited several studies – including Meta's own research – showing links between young people's use of Instagram and Facebook with depression, anxiety and other health problems. Attorneys claimed in the lawsuit that the sites' algorithms trigger releases of the pleasure chemical dopamine in young users that encourages them to continue scrolling, "much like a gambler at a slot machine."

Meta said in a statement at the time that it shares the “commitment to providing teens with safe, positive experiences online."

“We’re disappointed that instead of working productively with companies across the industry to create clear, age-appropriate standards for the many apps teens use, the attorneys general have chosen this path,” the company said.

Meta to update teen privacy settings, hide search terms

Meta's new policy means that the profile of all users under 18 will soon default to the most restrictive settings.

For those accounts, certain types of content will be hidden on both Facebook and Instagram – even if shared by someone a teen follows – and certain search terms will be restricted. If a teen searchers for a restricted term related to suicide, self-harm or eating disorders, they will instead be directed toward “expert resources for help” like the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Meta said.

While Meta will automatically set all teen accounts to the most stringent settings, the company acknowledged that these settings can be changed by users.

Teen users will also be prompted to update their privacy settings themselves, the company said.

For those who turn on recommended privacy settings, Meta will automatically limit who can repost their content, tag or mention them, or include their content in Reels and remixes. Under these settings, only a user's followers can send messages and offensive comments will not be visible at all.

Meta says it regularly consults experts on platform safety

Meta's blog post did not specifically mention the legal action it faces, but the company said it regularly consults “with experts in adolescent development, psychology and mental health to help make our platforms safe."

"We’ve spent over a decade developing policies and technology to address content that breaks our rules or could be seen as sensitive," the company said.

In a statement, Rachel Rodgers, a psychologist at Northeastern University, called the measures "an important step in making social media platforms spaces where teens can connect and be creative in age-appropriate ways."

"These policies reflect current understandings and expert guidance regarding teen’s safety and well-being," Rodgers said. "As these changes unfold, they provide good opportunities for parents to talk with their teens about how to navigate difficult topics.”

Contributing: Mike Snider

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com