Meta has agreed to pay up to $17 billion to settle a landmark lawsuit over allegations that Facebook and Instagram harmed children through addictive social media features.
The settlement follows legal action from U.S. states accusing the Big Tech company of designing its platforms to keep young users engaged while failing to adequately protect them from potential mental health and privacy harms. Meta has denied wrongdoing.
Under the agreement, Meta will introduce significant restrictions for users under 18. Teenagers will be limited to two hours per day on Facebook and Instagram, while access will be blocked between midnight and 6 a.m. Notifications will also be restricted during school hours.
Young users will additionally be offered a chronological feed rather than one determined by Meta’s recommendation algorithms, giving families greater control over the content children encounter.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta called the settlement a major victory for children and families, saying the changes would make social media less dangerous for young users.
Meta, meanwhile, said the agreement provides a framework for giving parents more control over their children’s social media use. The company is also urging competitors including TikTok and YouTube to adopt similar protections.
The agreement comes amid growing scrutiny of Big Tech’s impact on children. States have increasingly accused social media companies of prioritizing engagement and profits while exposing minors to addictive platform features and potentially harmful content.
The massive settlement, coupled with mandatory limits on how teenagers use Facebook and Instagram, could mark a significant shift toward greater parental control and accountability for social media companies.
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