New child safety measures Meta pledged in U.S. settlement not coming to Canada

New child protection measures Meta has promised as part of a massive legal settlement in the United States won’t be implemented in Canada.

A spokesperson for Meta says the changes to its Facebook and Instagram platforms announced today are specific to the United States.

Meta reached a settlement worth up to US$18 billion that ended a landmark trial over teen social media addiction.

The company agreed to adopt a series of safety features, including two-hour daily time limits that can only be disabled with a parent’s permission.

It will also eliminate push notifications during weekday school hours and bring in stronger age-assurance measures, among other changes.

In Canada, the federal government has proposed a new digital safety bill that would force social media platforms to block access for kids under 16.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 26, 2026.

— With files from The Associated Press

30+ Canadian and Quebec-based chains you can shop at instead of American ones