Meta’s teen social media overhaul puts its safety promises to the test

September 1, 2026

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Default limits on likes, late-night use and filters could protect young Instagram and Facebook users, some experts say. But more can always be done.

A 14-year-old boy looks at social media on his phone in Gosford, Australia.

In Australia, imposing the world’s first social media ban for children has proven tricky since the legislation was implemented this year.David Gray / AFP – Getty Images file

Sept. 1, 2026, 5:46 PM EDT

As a psychologist who works with teens, Sophia Choukas-Bradley has heard from clients who spend an hour after having posted on social media obsessively refreshing their screens, watching their likes accumulate. Some buy fake likes. Others delete posts that aren’t performing well enough.