Meta Platforms has agreed to implement significant modifications to Facebook and Instagram and pay a sum of up to $18 billion in the United States as part of a settlement to address allegations made by various states. These claims accused the company of intentionally designing the apps to create addiction among children, providing misleading information about safety, and unlawfully collecting personal data from children on its platforms.
The resolution was reached during a high-profile trial in California, where it was alleged that social media companies were negatively impacting young users. While Meta denied any wrongdoing, the focus of the case was on protecting children, as stated by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser.
As part of the settlement, Meta has agreed to impose restrictions on teenagers’ daily use of Facebook and Instagram for the next ten years, limiting usage to two hours per day and prohibiting access between midnight and 6 a.m. unless parental consent is granted. These restrictions may be further tightened if other social media firms adopt similar measures.
Additionally, Meta will enhance its efforts to prevent children from accessing age-restricted content, although the settlement does not compel Meta to discontinue personalized recommendations or targeted advertising.
The total payout, amounting to approximately three to four months of profits for the company, includes payments to 48 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The settlement also resolves privacy-related lawsuits stemming from the Cambridge Analytica scandal in California, Illinois, New Mexico, and Washington, D.C.
The settlement marks a significant development in ongoing legal battles against social media giants like Meta, Snapchat, YouTube, and TikTok, as they face numerous lawsuits alleging that they intentionally designed their platforms to be addictive to young users, contributing to mental health issues.
Numerous pending cases against these companies are awaiting resolution in both federal and state courts, reflecting the growing concerns about the impact of social media on the well-being of children and teens. Despite the settlements, some states like New Mexico and Florida have not reached agreements with Meta, indicating that legal battles over social media harms are far from over.