Meta Settlement Adds New Restrictions for Kansas Teens

Kansas schools are already limiting student’s phone use during the school day. Now, a new settlement involving Meta will bring additional restrictions for users under 18.

Meta agreed to pay about $18 billion to a group of states to settle claims that its platforms harmed young people. Kansas is one of the states involved.

Graphic showing the guaranteed payments each state will receive from the Meta settlement. Courtesy of KCRA 3, published Aug. 26, 2026.

The settlement was reached at the end of August and includes funding for youth online safety initiatives.

“So at the end of August, Meta settled with this group of states. And that’s a big chunk of change. That’s in the billions of dollars,” said Genelle Belmas, an associate professor at the University of Kansas School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

As part of the settlement, teens ages 13 to 17 will face a two-hour daily limit on Meta platforms. The company will also introduce Night Mode and School Mode, which are designed to limit notifications and reduce distractions.

The changes will also include additional age verification requirements for younger users.

“For kids, for example, there’s going to be more age verification,” Belmas said.

Meta did not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement.

Mental health professionals say social media can affect young people’s mental health, including creating pressure to stay connected and fear of missing out.

“We see the impacts of being on social media. This constant worrying about missing out if I put my phone down. Am I doing something worthy of putting on social media?” said Annas Boyer, director of Bert Nash Youth Community Services.

Boyer said communities should also focus on giving children opportunities to spend time away from social media.

“How do we create in our communities places where kids can just be free to be creative?” Boyer said. “That’s the side of things we should be really supporting and funding.”

Boyer said creating more opportunities for young people to disconnect from social media could help address some of the concerns surrounding its use. Mental health resources are also available through Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center in Lawrence.

The new restrictions come as Kansas schools and communities continue to look for ways to limit student’s phone use and address concerns about young people’s social media use.

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