Meta agrees up to $18bn US settlement and teen child-safety measures, ending landmark trial

Meta agreed over the next decade to restrict teenagers’ use of Facebook and Instagram ​to two hours a day and block all usage from midnight to 6 am, absent parental consent.

(MedPage Today) -- On August 26, Meta agreed to pay up to $17.1 billion over the next decade and impose new protections for young users of Facebook and Instagram. The agreement includes default time limits, overnight blocks, restrictions on school...

The $16.7 billion multi-year agreement reached by Meta this month to settle youth social media addiction lawsuits may be a minor blow to the company's vast earnings — $60 billion in profit last year alone — but the decision also reflects a nationwide backlash against the tech oligarchy.

The settlement came with certain conditions on how Meta should change its safety features on Instagram and Facebook

Meta agreed to billions in payments and new protections for kids. Harvard Law's Leah Plunkett looks at what it could mean for Meta's competitors and for AI companies.

Tech giant Meta settled a series of multistate social media addiction lawsuits, agreeing to pay out up to $17 billion. In addition, Meta will roll out some changes to its portfolio of social media apps, including Instagram, Facebook and others.

Meta's settlement with states in a child safety case this week had a big payout, but the attorneys general have their eyes on a bigger prize: national regulation of social media companies.

Evidence presented during a civil trial leading up to Meta's costly settlement with California and other states revealed that company employees had repeatedly raised concerns about young users of Facebook and Instagram being exposed to bullying, harassment and explicit content.

State attorneys general spent months in negotiations. Then, as its legal losses mounted, the social media giant’s new top lawyer brought a huge settlement to the table.

The settlement involves Meta paying states up to $18 billion over the next decade and remedies such as limiting how teenagers use its Facebook and Instagram social media platforms

Our reporter Cecilia Kang explains Meta’s settlement of a lawsuit claiming that the company’s social media platforms had harmed teenage users.

A flood of lawsuits against social media giants claim that by engineering their platforms to be hard to resist, the companies are causing serious harm to young users.

SYDNEY/MANILA/BRUSSELS — Meta's move to restrict teenagers' use of social media in the U.S. shows companies have tools to better protect young people online, Australian officials said on Thursday, while in the Philippines, an official said the U.S. company had pledged to boost protection there too. Meta's up to $18 billion settlement with nearly all U.S. states over social media harm to teenagers has opened a new front in a global government fight to protect children and curb addiction to platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. Governments around the world are trying to curb children's access to harmful online content, including a world-first ban in Australia late last year on social media for children under 16. Australian Communications Minister Anika Wells said in an email to Reuters that social media companies "have the tools at their disposal to protect young people from their addictive features but have chosen not to use them." Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion over a decade and limit how teenagers use Facebook and Instagram under an agreement with nearly all U.S. states to

Tech giant Meta will pay up to $18billion to settle claims its platforms harm children

Tech giant Meta agreed to a historic $18B payout to 47 U.S. states on Wednesday — as part of an effort to settle claims that social media has harmed American children.

A series of lawsuits accused tech giant Meta of purposefully designing social media apps to entice users and cause social media addiction. Meta will pay out $17 billion in a landmark settlement. CBS News' Jarred Hill reports.

Meta's multi-billion dollar settlement with 47 states over social media addiction could result in some major changes to social media rules, especially for children. Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic, joins with more.

This week’s settlement without liability was pragmatic, but it doesn’t change the inevitability of further lawsuits around the world Not many people would count paying $18bn they didn’t expect to when they woke up that morning as a victory. Yet for Meta, the owners of Facebook and Instagram, the agreement with 52 US attorneys general to settle claims that it designed its products to be addictive to children, and misled people about their safety, could be described as a win of sorts.Meta denies wrongdoing, and the amount it plans to pay will be spread over a decade. Some of it is contingent on other big tech firms not named in its case coughing up too. The cash is chump change for Meta, which made around $60bn in profit last year. More damaging to the tech giant in the long run could be the agreement to unwind some of the mechanics it has spent two decades perfecting to keep us on its platforms.Chris Stokel-Walker is the author of TikTok Boom: The Inside Story of the World’s Favourite App Continue reading...

The settlements announced on Wednesday end a federal trial over allegations Meta's products harmed children and the company misled the public about their safety. Four of the states — California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey — were expected to seek close to $200 billion in civil penalties.

The suit alleges that Meta designed its platforms to be addicting to young people.

Meta has reached a settlement with US states in an $18B lawsuit accusing the social media giant of deliberately making Instagram addictive to teenagers. The money will be used to fund youth safety initiatives and more, though there is a catch. More importantly, the company has agreed to introduce unprecedented protections against overuse of its social media apps by teens …

The first thing that jumps out is the number. On Wednesday, Meta reached a landmark settlement and agreed to pay up to $18 billion to 47 states, as well as […] The post Meta’s $18 billion settlement could reshape social media for young people appeared first on Poynter.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, agreed to pay up to $18 billion in a closely watched social media addiction case brought by 29 states. Under the landmark settlement, the company says it will make major changes to its platforms to better protect kids and teens. NBC’s Christine Romans reports for TODAY.

The company agreed to pay nearly $18 billion and pledged to impose new safety controls on Facebook and Instagram.

Meta’s move to restrict teenagers’ use of social media in the U.S. shows companies have tools to better protect young people online, Australian officials said on Thursday, as the country grapples with patchy enforcement of restrictions at home. Meta’s up to $18 billion settlement with nearly all U.S. states over social media harm to teenagers […]

Meta agreed on Wednesday to pay up to US$18 billion (approximately J$2.8 trillion) and add stronger child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms as part of a landmark legal settlement.

Meta will pay up to $18 billion over the next decade and strictly limit how teenagers use Facebook and Instagram under an agreement with nearly all US states to resolve claims it designed those social media platforms to addict children. The settlements announced on Wednesday end a federal trial over allegations Meta's products harmed children and the company misled the public about their safety.

The settlement between states and Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, means there will be new safeguards for young people on those platforms. What do psychologists think of the changes?

Facebook and Instagram’s owner has agreed to pay up to 18 billion dollars (£13.3 billion) as part of a settlement ending a legal battle in the US.

Facebook and Instagram’s owner has agreed to pay up to 18 billion dollars (£13.3 billion) as part of a settlement ending a legal battle in the US.

Meta's US$18 billion settlement with nearly 50 US states over social media harm to teenagers marks a new front in global efforts to protect children and curb social media addiction.

Meta's landmark trial over teen social media addiction is over with the tech giant agreeing to a multibillion-dollar settlement.

Meta's landmark trial over teen social media addiction is over with the tech giant agreeing to a multibillion-dollar settlement.

Meta's landmark trial over teen social media addiction is over with the tech giant agreeing to a multibillion-dollar settlement.

Key parts of the deal require Meta Platforms to put new guardrails on its platforms, including restricting how much time youths can scroll.

Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, agreed to pay billions of dollars and adopt new safety measures, settling claims that its products have harmed American kids. Kelly O'Grady has more.

Meta has agreed to pay $17 billion to settle claims that its platforms lead to addiction in kids and teens, but is not admitting any wrongdoing despite implementing new safeguards. CNET reporter Katelyn Chedraoui joins "The Daily Report" to discuss.

The social-media colossus will alter the way teens can use its platforms

{beacon} Technology Technology   The Big Story Meta settles with states over social media addiction claims Meta and a coalition of state attorneys general reached a settlement in the high-profile trial accusing the company of designing its platforms to be addictive for young users. © AP Photo/Ryan Sun The proposed settlement, later announced by California...

Meta agreed to pay up to $17 billion in a settlement, putting to rest a trial where dozens of states accused it of deliberately endangering children through their platforms. The company behind Facebook and Instagram agreed to implement digital guardrails for minors and is asking other social platforms to do the same. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser.

Meta has reached a landmark legal settlement with dozens of states over claims that the social media giant intentionally designed addictive platforms that harmed the mental health of teenagers. CBS News MoneyWatch correspondent Kelly O'Grady has the details.

A landmark settlement between Meta and attorneys general across the country will see the technology giant pay more than $18 billion to states but also roll out several changes to better protect kids and teens on its Facebook and Instagram platforms.   The settlement proposal, which awaits a judge’s approval, will end the high-profile trial in...

THE DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—Meta settled Wednesday in its multi-state lawsuit over alleged child social media addiction claims. The big tech platform agreed to the $17 billion settlement with California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey in People of the State of California, et al. v. Meta Platforms, Inc. in Oakland, California on Wednesday, Axios reported. The...

Meta Platforms Inc.’s plan to pay up to $18 billion in a sweeping settlement with almost every US state will resolve a slew of legal claims related to teenage users on the company’s social media platforms.

Meta agreed to pay a coalition of U.S. states as much as $16.7 billion and to impose sweeping new limits on how teenagers use Facebook and Instagram, according…

Finally, what some said could never be done has happened: Meta has been forced to make real changes to protect the millions of young people who use its products. While the amount that the company agreed to pay to settle a lawsuit brought by several states — up to $18 billion — is large, the real impact of the settlement may lie in what other social media apps do next, Bloomberg Opinion Dave Lee says. (Source: Bloomberg)

A settlement announced Wednesday between Meta and dozens of states resolves one of its biggest legal fights, but the social media giant is still facing litigation elsewhere over its products’ effects on young people’s mental health

Instagram and Facebook’s parent company agreed to sweeping alterations and a payment of upto $18bn to settle a landmark trialMeta’s agreement to change how teenagers use its social networks marks a major turning point for the US tech giant, setting a precedent that could significantly reshape how other social media operates in the coming years.Meta agreed to substantial alterations to Instagram and Facebook on Wednesday as part of a settlement to end a landmark lawsuit. Dozens of US states had accused it of addicting and harming children with dangerous products. The company also agreed to pay up to a combined $18bn over a decade to several US states and territories involved in the suit. Continue reading...

Meta just settled the huge multi-state case against it, alleging that the social media giant's products harm teens. It's paying $18B, but are the promised product changes enough to transform the services and truly protect teens?

Meta Platforms Inc. said it agreed to pay up to $18 billion in landmark settlements to resolve social media claims from US states that would require the company to make major changes to how it operates platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Bloomberg News Investigative Reporter Olivia Carville and Bloomberg Tech Host Ed Ludlow break down the announced agreement and what it means for the tech giant. (Source: Bloomberg)

A nationwide social media addiction trial against Meta came to an abrupt end on Wednesday, with the company announcing a sweeping settlement with 52 attorneys general. As part of the proposed settlement, the company promised to pay around $18 billion to participating states over a ten-year period and enact a set of changes to make […]

Meta and the attorneys general of four states have reached a $17 billion settlement in a landmark federal trial over child safety issues on Facebook and Instagram.

(MedPage Today) -- Meta has agreed to pay $18 billion and add stronger child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms to end a landmark trial over teen social media addiction and settle claims filed by 47 states, state attorneys...

Minnesota will get at least $214 million from a settlement that is worth a minimum of $12.2 billion. The social media giant that owns Instagram and Facebook is also changing its products in the face of mounting public pressure.

The company decided to settle rather than go to trial against four states who claim the platform endangers children.

Meta faces a $16.7 billion settlement that promises to revolutionise how teenagers use Facebook and Instagram.

Tech giant Meta will shell out up to $17 billion in a settlement following a massive multi-state legal suit on social media addiction. CBS News' Kelly O'Grady explains more.

Meta has agreed to pay $17 billion and add stronger child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms to end a landmark trial over teen social media addiction and settle claims filed by 47 states, state attorneys general announced Wednesday. The settlement resolves a pivotal legal case years in the making that sought to hold the tech giant accountable for the role its platforms played in undermining children’s mental health. The effort targeted features designed to hook young people’s attention. “For years, Meta intentionally deceived the public about the addictive and harmful design features that have wreaked havoc on youth mental health,” the Virginia attorney general, Jay Jones, said. The settlement “will put an end to these dangerous practices and deliver meaningful relief that will protect children from online harm,” Jones said. California’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, said the money would be paid out over 10 years, with the state getting at least $1.5 billion if the settlement is approved by the court. New Jersey expects to receive at least $525 million. Massachusetts said it was in line for at least $366 million. Virginia’s share is worth $353 million. Meta urges rivals to adopt similar safety measures Meta said in a blog post that it was “building on our longstanding efforts to empower parents and support teens.” “Ensuring teens have a safe and productive experience on our platforms is an absolute imperative for Meta,” the company said. “We want to get this right for parents and teens, and that’s why we partnered with state attorneys general to set a new industry standard.” The company urged rivals TikTok and YouTube to adopt similar safety measures. The $17 billion settlement is a fraction of Meta’s 2025 revenue of $201 billion. The agreement cuts short a court case involving California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey, which were among 29 states that sued Meta in 2023. Its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, was among those expected to take the stand before a jury in federal court in California. The lawsuit accused Meta of contributing to the youth mental health crisis by deliberately designing features that addict children to its platforms and hiding them from the public. The case also argued that Meta violated federal laws by routinely collecting data on children under 13 without their parents’ consent. The trial kicked off last week in Oakland, California, with U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers overseeing the proceedings. Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, began his testimony late Tuesday and defended Meta’s record and progress on child safety and privacy. The cases in other states had been expected to go to trial later. In addition, nine attorneys general filed lawsuits in their respective states. New features to include time limits and curbs on push notifications Under the proposed settlement, Meta agreed to adopt a series of safety features, including a “hard cap” on daily time limits and pauses for children using Instagram and Facebook. It will eliminate push notifications during weekday school hours and bring in “robust” age-assurance measures and “age-appropriate” content controls to prevent bullying and harmful material about eating disorders and self-harm. There will be stronger and more user-friendly parental controls and limits on social comparison features such as “like” counts. An independent auditor will assess how Meta is implementing the safety features and how effective they are. Meta put the settlement at $18 billion, a figure that apparently includes a large award for Texas. The money is to be paid out annually over 10 years, to fund youth online safety initiatives. However, the company said 30% of that amount—about $5.3 billion—will be released to states only if YouTube and TikTok meet two conditions: implementing similar safety features, including a one-hour daily time limit, a nighttime block, and age-assurance measures; and paying the same amount, split between the two companies. Neither YouTube’s owner, Google, nor TikTok responded immediately to requests for comments. Investigation was led by bipartisan coalition The federal lawsuit was the result of an investigation led by a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general from California, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Vermont. It followed newspaper reports, first by The Wall Street Journal in 2021, that found the company knew about the harm Instagram can cause teenagers— specially girls—when it comes to mental health and body image issues. Meta has since added a host of safety features to Instagram, including separate accounts for teenagers with stronger protections around messaging and privacy, along with content restrictions. But child safety experts, along with some former Meta employees, have long contended that the features are little more than window dressing. Arturo Béjar, a former Meta engineering director, said during his testimony last week that Meta consistently prioritized profits over safety in designing its products, focusing on how often and for how long people used them, even if it was detrimental to their mental well-being. “If you step away from the product, they are not going to make any money,” he said. While the four states in the Oakland trial did not officially say how much they had been seeking, Meta said in a court filing that financial penalties in the case could amount to as much as $1.4 trillion—a figure legal experts said was unlikely, if not impossible. —Barbara Ortutay and Kelvin Chan Associated Press Writer Sarah Rankin contributed to this report.

Meta has agreed to pay up to $18 billion and make major changes to Facebook and Instagram to settle claims from most U.S. states that the platforms were designed to addict children and misled users about their safety. For the next decade, teens will be limited to two hours a day and blocked from using the apps between midnight and 6 a.m. without parental consent. Meta will, however, still be allowed to use personalized recommendations and targeted advertising. Reuters reports: The settlements include more than $17.6 billion of payments to 48 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands. Meta will also pay $459 million to resolve states' privacy claims related to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, where the British consulting firm collected personal data of millions of Facebook users. California would receive the highest payout, $2.2 billion, and New York and Texas would each receive more than $1 billion. Some of the payout is contingent on whether Alphabet's YouTube and ByteDance's TikTok impose similar protections for children. [...] The settlement requires approval by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who oversaw the trial that began on August 18. Gonzalez Rogers still oversees thousands of lawsuits by individuals, school districts, and state and local governments accusing social media companies of harming children. Meta itself still faces thousands of lawsuits by individuals, school districts and municipalities. The next trials are slated for October in Los Angeles. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

The Silicon Valley company agreed to pay up to $17.1 billion in penalties as part of a landmark settlement with states over social media addiction claims.

Meta has agreed to pay $17 billion and add stronger child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms to end a landmark trial over teen social media addiction and settle claims filed by 47 states, state attorneys general announced Wednesday.

Meta has reached a proposed settlement worth up to approximately $18 billion with a bipartisan coalition of 52 attorneys generals over allegations that Facebook and Instagram were deliberately designed to encourage compulsive use by children and teenagers. [...]

Meta Platforms Inc. said it agreed to pay up to $18 billion in landmark settlements to resolve allegations from multiple US states that the company deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram to encourage compulsive use among young users. Matthew Schettenhelm, Bloomberg Intelligence Media Litigation Analyst joins to discuss. (Source: Bloomberg)

Many U.S. states say Meta's social media platforms have "harmed" younger users with addictive tendencies, and after a huge $16 billion settlement, change is coming.

Teen users will face daily time limits, overnight blocks and muted notifications during school hours The post Meta agrees to major $17billion settlement and changes to Facebook and Instagram after trial over teen addiction appeared first on NME.

SAN FRANCISCO — In a landmark development, Meta reached a proposed settlement Wednesday with U.S. states over claims it designed Facebook and Instagram to hook children. Here are the main terms, which require a judge's approval to take effect. The money Meta would pay in 10 annual installments totaling about $11.7 billion, with a further $5 billion payable only if rival platforms sign comparable agreements — a maximum of $16.7 billion. Separately, the company would pay $75 million toward the states' legal costs and $459 million to settle older claims tied to the Cambridge Analytica data scandal. States are expected to spend the money on youth mental health programs, crisis lines, after-school activities and digital literacy, though final decisions rest with state legislatures. Nighttime block Within six months, teenage accounts would by default be locked out of Facebook and Instagram from midnight to 6:00 am local time. Messaging and settings would stay available but stripped down so teens cannot use them to reach the wider app. Push notifications would be switched off from 10:00 pm to 7

OAKLAND, Calif. — Meta has agreed to pay $17 billion and add stronger child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms to end a landmark trial over teen social media addiction and settle claims filed by 47 states, state attorneys general announced Wednesday. The settlement resolves a pivotal legal case years in the making that sought to hold the tech giant accountable for the role its platforms played in undermining children’s mental health. The effort targeted features designed to hook young people’s attention. “For years, Meta intentionally deceived the public about the addictive and harmful design features that have wreaked havoc on youth mental health," Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones said. The settlement "will put an end to these dangerous practices and deliver meaningful relief that will protect children from online harm.” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the money would be paid out over 10 years, with the state getting at least $1.5 billion if the settlement is approved by the court. New Jersey expects to receive at least $525 million. Massach

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta agreed to pay roughly $18 billion to settle a lawsuit brought by 29 states over allegations that Facebook and Instagram harmed children through addictive design. The post Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta Agrees to $18 Billion Settlement with 29 States to End Teen Social Media Addiction Lawsuit appeared first on Breitbart.

State of the Union: In a landmark settlement, the tech giant also agreed to limit some of its platforms’ most addictive features. The post Meta Agrees to Pay Out $16.7 Billion Over Social Media Harms appeared first on The American Conservative.

Meta has settled out of a landmark social media addiction trial, agreeing to pay $17 billion to state authorities and making safety changes to its platform.

Experts say the landmark settlement could reshape how social media companies design products for young users.

The social media company will pay up to $17.1 billion — if sites like TikTok and YouTube follow suit — and implement several new safety features meant to limit young users’ screen time.

Meta had been accused of collecting data from children aged 13 and under without their parents' consent as well as designing social media platforms to keep young people addicted

Meta Platforms agreed to pay a maximum $16.68 billion and make major changes to Facebook and Instagram to resolve claims by states across the U.S. that the company designed those platforms to addict children, misled consumers about their safety, and improperly collected children’s personal data, court papers show. Meta shares were down 0.4% in early […]

The deal also requires Meta to make several changes to Facebook and Instagram for younger users.

Meta agrees to a multibillion-dollar settlement requiring new limits, nighttime blocks and parental controls for teen Facebook and Instagram users.

California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey were among 29 US states that sued the tech giant in 2023.

Meta has reached an $18 billion settlement with various US states, addressing claims that it negatively affected minors and exploited their data. As part of this agreement, substantial changes to protect underage users will be instituted, including daily screen time limitations and restrictions on late-night usage. This settlement marks a significant legal milestone for technology companies concerning the welfare of young users.

The settlement includes new limits on teenagers' use of Facebook and Instagram, with safeguards that will substantially change how the apps work for young people.

Meta Platforms on Wednesday agreed to pay $17 billion to settle claims, filed by 47 US states, that the company designed Facebook and Instagram to deliberately make teens addicted to their products while deceiving the public, according to state attorneys general. The company agreed to add child-safety measures as part of the settlement. 

The lawsuit accused Meta of contributing to the youth mental health crisis by deliberately designing features that addict children to its platforms and hiding them from the public

The tech giant agreed one of the largest consumer protection settlements in US history, ending a trial that could have put Zuckerberg on the stand.

The $17 billion settlement is a fraction of Meta's 2025 revenue of $201 billion.

Meta settles $16.68bn lawsuit over child addiction claims, agreeing to major changes in Facebook and Instagram features.

Meta has agreed to settle the social media addiction trial brought forward by California and other states for nearly $18 billion. NBC News' Allie Canal and Misty Marris have details on the settlement and what it means for the social media giant.

Meta agreed to implement new safety measures, including a default two-hour daily limit for using Facebook and Instagram, for users under the age of 18

Changes include a nighttime block on teens' Facebook and Instagram accounts, and a two-hour daily use cap

Thursday's settlement resolves a lawsuit brought against Meta by 29 states over claims Instagram and Facebook were deliberately designed to hook young users.

Meta has agreed to pay up to $17.1 billion in a settlement with 48 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana Islands, for the harm that its social media platforms have done to kids and teenagers. Under the terms of the settlement, the company will agree to put a cumulative two-hour limit for users of Facebook and Instagram under 18, which will require a parent’s permission to override. Meta will also hide likes on minors’ posts by default and block “extreme makeup filters.” The only states that weren’t a part of the settlement were New Mexico, which won its own lawsuit against Meta earlier this year, and Florida. Meta only has to pay 70 percent of the total sum unless TikTok, owned by Paramount Skydance, and YouTube, owned by Google parent Alphabet, also agree to pay states $5.3 billion between them and implement default time limits on their apps and services. If they don’t, Meta doesn’t have to pay the remaining 30 percent, which is also $5.3 billion. Meta is still facing thousands of lawsuits from individuals, organizations, and school districts. New Mexico’s lawsuit resulted in the company having to pay $375 million in civil penalties, create a $567 million fund to address harms to children in the state, and put limits on how minors interact with the app. The settlement is a rare agreement across political lines, with Democratic as well as Republican state and territorial attorneys general all seeking to hold Meta accountable. CEO Mark Zuckerberg seemingly sought to avoid accountability by cozying up to President Trump after the 2024 election, donating $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund and changing Meta’s content moderation policies after meeting with the president. But Meta is now on the record agreeing that restitution needs to be made due to the harms of its social media platforms, even if it isn’t outright admitting guilt. It remains to be seen if other social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube follow suit.  The settlement still needs approval from a federal judge. This story has been updated.

Meta has agreed to pay $17 billion and add child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms to end a landmark trial over teen social media addiction and settle claims filed by 47 states, state attorneys general announced Wednesday.

Meta Platforms has agreed to pay US$17 billion and add child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms to end a landmark trial over teen social media addiction and settle claims filed by 47 US states, state attorneys general announced on Wednesday. California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey were among 29 states that sued the tech giant in 2023, but the deal cuts short the trial, which was expected to see CEO Mark Zuckerberg take the stand before a jury in federal court in...

In addition to sending billions of dollars to states, Meta will make substantive changes to its platforms as part of a landmark settlement.

States brought the suit against the social media giant in 2023. Meta agreed to make changes to its platforms as part of the agreement.

Agreement represents the largest ever Big Tech settlement, and will force Meta to introduce sweeping restrictions on its platforms

The deal has been reached during a California federal court trial over claims brought by 29 states.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta and coalition of 51 attorneys unveiled a proposed settlement with social media giant Meta — parent of Facebook, Intstagram and WhatsApp — for up to $17 billion along with remedies designed to help protect teens from alleged mental health harms associated with social media use, the crux of a landmark lawsuit, […]

Meta agreed to pay $17 billion to settle allegations that its social media platforms are addictive.

Meta has agreed to pay up to $18 billion and to make changes to Facebook and other online services, all to settle a federal lawsuit alleging teenagers are being harmed by social media.Instagram, one of Meta's online social propertiesMark Zuckerberg's Meta has been dealing with a trial concerning the mental and social effects of social media for a while, but it's seemingly no longer a problem. The social giant has managed to hammer out a settlement with some functional concessions as well as a hefty fine.The settlement is with 48 state attorneys general across the entire United States, including four jurisdictions, reports the Wall Street Journal. The exceptions are New Mexico, which won in a similar trial in the spring, and Florida, which didn't take part in the settlement. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Meta has agreed to a wide-ranging deal settling all claims in US federal and state courts which alleged the company's platforms harmed children.

The settlement ⁠was reached during a California federal trial over claims brought by 29 states, averting one of the highest-profile tests yet of allegations that social media companies harmed young users

Meta did not respond immediately to a request for comment. The US$17 billion settlement is a fraction of the company's 2025 revenue of US$201 billion.

Meta did not respond immediately to a request for comment. The US$17 billion settlement is a fraction of the company's 2025 revenue of US$201 billion.

The tech giant has agreed to add child safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms in the settlement, ending a landmark trial in the US.

The tech giant has agreed to add child safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms in the settlement, ending a landmark trial in the US.

The tech giant has agreed to add child safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms in the settlement, ending a landmark trial in the US.

The social-media giant agreed to pay up to $16.68 billion as part of the settlement.

Meta Platforms has reached a $16.7 billion settlement in a high-profile case concerning harm caused to teens through its social media platforms. The settlement amount is significantly lower than Meta's worst-case scenario estimate of $1.4 trillion, which represented the maximum potential penalties if all accusations had been upheld at their severest levels. Ed Ludlow reports on "Bloomberg Open Interest." (Source: Bloomberg)

Meta has agreed to pay what could amount to billions of dollars and to implement platform usage limitations on young users in a lawsuit brought by US states. The challenge revolved around addiction issues and overuse.

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—Meta agreed to pay US states as much as $16.7 billion and to impose sweeping new limits on how teenagers use Facebook and Instagram, according to a court filing on Wednesday that ends a landmark trial underway in California. The proposed settlement, filed in federal court, would resolve claims by a coalition of 29 US states that Meta deliberately engineered its platforms to hook young users, misled the public about the risks and unlawfully collected data from children under 13.

Meta and a coalition of state attorneys general reached a settlement in the high-profile trial accusing the company of designing its platforms to be addictive for young users, according to court filings published Wednesday. The proposed settlement, later announced by California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D), will require Meta to make various changes to its...

Meta has agreed to pay $17 billion and add child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms to end a landmark trial over teen social media addiction and settle claims filed by 47 states

The lawsuit alleged that Meta knowingly designed platforms like Instagram and Facebook to addict children, despite knowing about the harms the platforms could pose to young users.

The settlement, reached during a federal trial in Oakland, requires Meta to add usage limits and nighttime blocks for teenage users

Meta will pay up to $18 billion over 10 years — and implement broad child-safety reforms on Instagram and Facebook — under a nationwide settlement with 52 state attorneys general, including California’s Rob Bonta. The agreement, subject to court approval, resolves claims by the state AGs that Meta designed Instagram with addictive features, knowingly exposed […]

Meta has agreed to pay a maximum of $16.68bn to settle claims brought by states across the country. They alleged the company designed Facebook and Instagram to addict children, misled consumers about their safety, and improperly collected the personal data of children who used its platforms. Diana Novak Jones reported the figure for Reuters on […] This story continues at The Next Web

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Meta has agreed to pay $17 billion and add child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms to end a landmark trial over teen social media addiction and settle claims filed by 47 states, state attorneys general announced Wednesday.

Meta has agreed to pay $17 billion and add child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms to end a landmark trial over teen social media addiction and settle claims filed by 47 states, state attorneys general announced Wednesday.

Meta agreed to change Instagram and Facebook in a settlement resolving a case brought by states that accused the company of designing addictive products for children.

Meta and a coalition of 47 US states settled the major federal trial centring on allegations that the social media giant misrepresented the extent of child-related mental health harms caused by its platforms.

Meta and a coalition of 47 US states settled the major federal trial centring on allegations that the social media giant misrepresented the extent of child-related mental health harms caused by its platforms.

US tech giant agrees to establish further protections for teens such as daily usage limits and blocks on nighttime useMeta reached an agreement to settle a landmark case brought by states across the US that accused the tech giant of addicting and harming children with dangerous products, according to a court filing released on Wednesday.The agreement will require the social media company to pay up to $17bn. Meta agreed to establish safeguards for teenage users, including daily usage limits and nighttime blocks nationwide in the US. This is the first time Meta has been forced to change how its platforms function. As part of the settlement, the company denies wrongdoing. Continue reading...

The settlement further requires Meta to develop additional tools to help parents and guardians monitor and protect children online.

The settlement was reached during a California federal trial over claims brought by 29 states, averting one of the highest-profile tests yet of allegations that social media companies harmed young users

The social media giant settled with 47 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories, and agreed to make major changes to its products over claims its platforms endangered children.

The social media giant also agreed to make sweeping changes to Instagram and Facebook.

The settlement was reached during a California federal trial, averting one of the highest-profile tests yet of allegations that social media companies harmed young users.

Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta has agreed to pay up to $16.68 billion as part of a historic settlement with 29 state attorneys general who alleged the company purposely built Instagram and Facebook to addict kids.

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Meta reaches settlement over claims Facebook Instagram fueled child addiction

CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Meta will avoid what likely would’ve been a disastrous, high-stakes trial.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Meta will avoid what likely would’ve been a disastrous, high-stakes trial.

Meta Settles With US States For $16.7 Billion Over Social Media Harms To Children Meta Platforms has reached a $16.7 billion settlement to resolve a landmark claim brought by several states that the company designed Instagram and Facebook to addict children, improperly collected children's personal data, and misled consumers about their safety.  The deal was in a Wednesday court filing in California after a lawsuit was brought by 29 states - with attorneys for  Colorado, California, New Jersey and Kentucky - leading the group. The states argued that features like infinite scroll were purposely engineered to keep young users hooked, that Meta misled the public about the safety of its platforms for adolescents, and that the company improperly collected and monetized children's personal data in violation of federal law. As part of the settlement, Meta must implement daily usage limits and 'nighttime blocks' for teenagers who use the company's apps like Facebook and Instagram, as well as "enhanced age assurance measures" that would prevent children from using them, and also providing parents with additional tools, CNBC reports. Additionally, Meta is tying another $5.3 billion of the settlement to Google and TikTok adopting similar teen safety measures - cutting default teen time limits from 2 hours to 1 hour per day.  The attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming joined the settlement. Prior to the settlement, Meta warned that maximum statutory penalties could theoretically reach $1.4 trillion, while the attorneys general have indicated they may seek around $200 billion. That said, the company still faces thousands of lawsuits filed by school districts and individual plaintiffs alleging harms from social media.  While shares spiked as much as 5% premarket on the news, the move was quickly reversed at market open. h ttps://x.com/TrwendSpider/status/2092360371138932969?s=202 Tyler Durden Wed, 08/26/2026 - 09:19

Meta Platforms, the owner of Facebook and Instagram has agreed to settle a social media addiction lawsuit for up to $16 billion.

Meta Platforms has settled claims from US states, accused of creating Instagram and Facebook to foster children’s dependence and misleading users about safety. This agreement concluded a significant federal trial concerning social media's impact on minors.

Meta Platforms Inc. has agreed to pay up to $16.7 billion to settle a landmark social media case with multiple US states, according to a court filing Wednesday.

Meta Platforms has agreed to pay a maximum $16.68 billion and make major changes to Facebook and Instagram to resolve claims by states across the US that it designed those platforms to addict children, misled consumers about their safety and improperly collected children's personal data.

Meta also agreed to make changes for teenage users of Facebook and Instagram nationwide in the US, including daily usage limits and nighttime blocks, court papers show.

Meta has agreed to pay up to $16.68bn (£12.26bn) to dozens of US states to settle claims that its social media platforms harmed children.

Source: United Press International - Health NewsMeta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, will pay $17 billion to settle a lawsuit brought by 29 state attorneys general over the mental health risks posed to children by its social media platforms. Court filings on Wednesday detail changes Meta must implement to safeguard its platform for the use of minors. Those requirements include limits on daily use, blocking access at night, more parental tools, and greater proof of age standards.