Meta agrees to $17bn settlement over claims of child social media addiction
Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Threads, has agreed to a major settlement over allegations about the addictiveness of its social platforms for children. According to court filings, the social media giant could pay as much as $17.1 billion to settle the litigation. The technology company has recently been on the losing end of several US lawsuits that alleged it failed to…
Meta, the parent company behind Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, has reached a significant $17.1 billion settlement with 47 US states, Washington DC, and other territories over claims that its social media platforms are addictive for children. The company, which has been embroiled in several lawsuits alleging it failed to disclose the risks of younger users becoming addicted to its services, has denied these allegations.
As part of the settlement, Meta has agreed to implement several child safety features on its platforms, including daily time limits, reduced notifications, and nighttime access restrictions. The company also pledged to adopt a new safety standard for teens, urging other major tech firms like TikTok and YouTube to join in. However, Meta's settlement has been met with criticism from some officials, who argue that the company intentionally endangered children for financial gain.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a key figure in the litigation, welcomed the settlement, stating that it would bring significant changes to how Meta interacts with children and teens.
Written by urgent.news from The National Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
