A court-approved settlement requires Meta to disable certain face-altering filters for teen users, with settling states due to clarify which effects fall under the rule by Tuesday, Oct. 27.
The agreement defines a teen user as someone whose stated or predicted age on Meta’s services is 13 through 17. Covered edits may distort, sculpt, redefine or idealize a user’s face, but they must produce a result that would require cosmetic surgery or extreme makeup.
Fantasy and character effects, animal effects, parody and extreme distortions are excluded. Makeup-style edits and skin smoothing also fall outside the restriction if they leave facial structure unchanged and do not meaningfully alter skin tone.
The agreement does not give examples of borderline edits, such as modest changes to eye shape or facial proportions. Creative technologist Florencia Solari told NPR, “If the states want to define what is a beauty filter, they should define what is beauty.”
Chief U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers entered the final consent judgment Aug. 26, and the agreement took effect Aug. 27. The filter requirements are scheduled to begin Feb. 27, 2027, six months after the effective date.
The settlement resolved state allegations that Meta used Facebook and Instagram to attract and retain young users, misled the public about risks and violated federal and state laws. Meta denied the allegations, and the case ended without a final ruling on the factual and legal claims.
The product changes apply only in participating states. The agreement says they do not establish a standard or precedent in other U.S. states or internationally.
By Tuesday, Oct. 27, the settling states must send Meta a letter with examples of effects that do and do not meet the definition.
