Meta Agrees to Pay Up to $16.68bn in Child Safety Settlement With 29 US States
Social media giant Meta has reached a settlement with 29 US states to resolve a major lawsuit over child safety on Facebook and Instagram.
According to court documents, Meta will pay a maximum of $16.68 billion (£12.26 billion) under the agreement.
The settlement requires Meta to introduce new safety measures for teenage users, including daily usage limits and restrictions on nighttime access. The company will also be required to limit children’s access to its platforms during school hours, strengthen parental controls and introduce tougher age-verification measures for underage users.
Meta denied wrongdoing in agreeing to the settlement.
The states had alleged that Meta violated several federal and state privacy laws designed to protect children. They accused the company of using its platforms “to entice, engage, and ultimately ensnare youth and teens” while failing to adequately address the impact on the mental and physical wellbeing of America’s youth.
Following the announcement, District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb described the settlement as a “monumental public health victory.”
He said: “The safety features Meta is required to install will fundamentally and immediately change how young people use Instagram and Facebook.”
The agreement represents a major legal setback for Meta as US authorities intensify scrutiny of how social media platforms protect children and teenagers online.
