What’s about to change on Facebook and Instagram: six key takeaways from the end of the Meta trial

New settings cannot be changed without the permission of a supervising parent account that is linked to the teen account. Photograph: Anna Barclay/Getty Images

Meta has agreed to put new guardrails on teenagers’ use of its apps, in a decision that could fundamentally change the social media experience for young people in the US.

In a turnaround, the social media giant will make several safety limitations the default option for young users, instead of requiring them to opt in.