Meta agrees to up to $16.68 billion and to daily, night limits for children on Facebook and Instagram
The deal requires daily and nighttime limits for child accounts and tighter age checks; separate state suits over Cambridge Analytica are included.
Meta has agreed to pay up to $16.68 billion and to change how Facebook and Instagram treat underage users as part of a settlement that resolves claims brought by 29 U.S. states accusing the company of designing its platforms to foster addiction among children.
The agreement requires Meta to impose daily limits on how long children can use Facebook and Instagram and to restrict access during nighttime hours. The company will also adopt stronger age-verification measures intended to keep younger users away from content aimed at older audiences.
State claims and related payments
The states argued that Meta misled consumers about the safety of its platforms and collected children’s personal data without adequate notice or parental consent. They also said Facebook and Instagram contributed to a broader mental-health crisis among children and teenagers in the United States. Meta denied legal liability and rejected allegations that its platforms are addictive, arguing that "social media addiction" is not a recognized psychiatric disorder.
The settlement also resolves separate lawsuits filed by California, Illinois, New Mexico and Washington over issues connected to the Cambridge Analytica scandal; those four states will receive $459.3 million as part of the deal.
Company shares rose 2.3 percent in early U.S. trading after the settlement was announced.
Under the terms, Meta must implement technical and policy changes across its services to enforce time limits and night-time restrictions for accounts identified as belonging to minors, and to strengthen procedures for verifying user ages. The settlement prevents further continuation of one of the most significant suits alleging harm to children from social-media use.
Photo: press material from the event
