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Meta Platforms Agrees to $18 Billion Settlement with States to Resolve Child Safety and Social Media Addiction Lawsuit

Meta Platforms has reached a landmark settlement with a bipartisan coalition of 51 state attorneys general to resolve a federal lawsuit regarding the addictive nature of its apps, Facebook and Instagram. The company agreed to pay approximately $18 billion over a 10-year period to fund youth online safety initiatives, while also committing to significant platform transformations. These changes include mandatory daily usage limits, nighttime blocks, and enhanced age assurance measures for teenagers. California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the settlement, noting that the agreement secures immediate protections for children and families. While Meta did not admit wrongdoing, the settlement requires the company to implement features such as a two-hour default time limit for users under 18 and a ban on cosmetic surgery filters for minors. The agreement also includes a provision where participating states can receive an additional $5.3 billion if rivals YouTube and TikTok implement similar safety features. The settlement, which was reached during the trial in Oakland, ends a legal battle that many observers compared to the tobacco litigation of the 1990s.

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