Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has agreed to pay up to $16.68 billion to settle lawsuits brought by 29 US states alleging that its platforms were designed to addict children and teenagers and contributed to harm among young users.
The agreement was reached during a federal trial in California, where Meta was facing allegations that it deliberately designed features on Facebook and Instagram to keep young users engaged, misled users about safety and improperly collected personal data from children.
Under the settlement, Meta will introduce new protections for teenage users, including default daily usage limits and nighttime restrictions. The company will also strengthen measures designed to prevent children from accessing inappropriate content and provide additional parental controls.
Meta has denied wrongdoing and did not admit liability as part of the settlement.
The case is part of a wider legal battle in the United States over the impact of social media on children and teenagers, with Meta and other major technology companies facing thousands of lawsuits alleging that their platforms contribute to youth mental health problems.
