Key Points
- Meta agrees to pay up to $17.1 billion to settle lawsuits from 29 US states
- Settlement requires daily time limits and nighttime blocks for teenage users
- Some restrictions conditional on YouTube and TikTok adopting similar measures
Meta has agreed to pay up to $17.1 billion and impose restrictions on teenage accounts to settle claims from 47 US states that the company designed Facebook and Instagram to addict children and misled the public about platform safety.
The settlement, disclosed in court papers on Wednesday (26 August), resolves one of the highest-profile legal tests yet of allegations that social media companies have harmed young users. Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer of Meta, could have been called to testify had the case proceeded to trial.
Under the agreement, Meta will pay at least $12.1 billion over 10 years, according to the District of Columbia attorney general’s office. The company could be required to pay an additional $5 billion if other major social media platforms agree to adopt comparable child safety measures.
Settlement terms
The states accused Meta of violating consumer protection laws and improperly collecting children’s personal data without parental consent. Meta has denied the allegations and said it has worked to protect children on its platforms.
Under the settlement terms, Meta agreed to impose strict daily time limits for young users, block access to its applications during certain nighttime hours, mute notifications during school hours and introduce additional parental controls. These restrictions aim to address concerns that the platforms were engineered to maximise engagement among younger users at the expense of their wellbeing.
Meta said the agreement builds on its existing efforts to protect teenagers and give parents more control over their children’s use of its platforms.
By the numbers
- $17.1 billion
- Maximum settlement amount Meta could pay
- 47 states
- US states that filed claims against Meta
- 10 years
- Payment period for base settlement
“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.”
Conditional measures
However, Meta noted that some changes, including nighttime access blocks, remain conditional and would only be implemented once competitors such as YouTube and TikTok adopt similar limits on their platforms. The company said it expects any changes to take approximately six months to roll out.
Meta called on TikTok and YouTube to adopt similar restrictions, arguing that protections on individual platforms will have limited impact because teenagers frequently move between applications.
“For meaningful progress to happen, we urge TikTok and YouTube to join us and state attorneys general in adopting this new standard, to ensure teens use social media in a healthy and responsible way,” Meta said in an open letter to the two companies.
The settlement follows years of mounting pressure on social media companies over their handling of child safety. Lawmakers, regulators and advocacy groups have increasingly scrutinised how platforms design features that critics say exploit psychological vulnerabilities in young users.
The case is among several legal actions targeting social media companies over alleged harms to children. A US appeals court recently ruled that Meta and other companies must face thousands of lawsuits over claims of child social media addiction, allowing those cases to proceed.
Consumer protection regulators in multiple jurisdictions have also targeted platforms over their data collection practices involving minors. The settlement with Meta establishes a precedent for how such cases might be resolved, though the conditional nature of some provisions means the full scope of changes remains uncertain.
Meta’s platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, have more than three billion monthly active users globally. The company has faced repeated criticism over its content moderation policies, data practices and the mental health effects of its services, particularly on younger users.
Your Questions, Answered
How much will Meta pay in the child safety settlement?
Meta will pay at least $12.1 billion over 10 years, with the potential for an additional $5 billion if other social media companies adopt comparable child safety measures, bringing the total to $17.1 billion.
What restrictions will Meta impose on teenage users?
Meta agreed to impose daily time limits, block access during nighttime hours, mute notifications during school hours and introduce additional parental controls. However, some measures are conditional on competitors adopting similar restrictions.
Why did US states sue Meta?
Twenty-nine US states accused Meta of violating consumer protection laws, designing platforms to addict children and improperly collecting children's personal data without parental consent.
When will Meta implement the new safety measures?
Meta said it expects any changes to take approximately six months to roll out, though some restrictions remain conditional on YouTube and TikTok adopting similar measures.
