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Meta agrees to pay up to $18bn to settle social media case

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Why This Matters

Meta's $18 billion settlement highlights the urgent need for increased accountability and safety measures on social media platforms, especially for young users. The agreement mandates new safety features that could significantly change how teens engage with Facebook and Instagram, setting a precedent for industry-wide responsibility in protecting youth online. This development underscores the importance of stronger regulations and industry cooperation to safeguard mental and physical wellbeing of younger audiences.

Key Takeaways

Social media giant Meta has reached a settlement with US states and territories to resolve a court case related to child safety on Facebook and Instagram.

The tech company says it will pay a maximum of $18bn (£13.3bn) to 48 states, plus the District of Columbia and three US territories.

The settlement requires Meta to introduce certain rules for teenage users, including daily limits and night-time blocks.

Meta denied wrongdoing in agreeing to settle.

It was alleged the company had violated numerous federal and state privacy laws for children.

The states suing Meta claimed it used its platforms "to entice, engage, and ultimately ensnare youth and teens," and ignored the damage they did to the "mental and physical wellbeing of America's youth".

After the settlement was announced, District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb called it a "monumental public health victory".

He added: "The safety features Meta is required to install will fundamentally and immediately change how young people use Instagram and Facebook."

Safety features Meta will need to introduce include limiting access for children during school hours, stronger parental controls and robust age verification for underage users.

"Today, we are announcing an agreement with a bipartisan group of 52 attorneys general across US states, territories, and the District of Columbia, building on our longstanding efforts to empower parents and support teens," Meta said in a statement.

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