Meta agrees to pay up to $16.7 billion to settle teen social media harm case

Meta Platforms has reached a settlement in a significant social media case involving multiple U.S. states, potentially paying up to US$16.7 billion, as reported in a court filing on August 26. The agreement requires Meta to implement new safeguards on its platforms, including restricting the usage time of youths on Facebook and Instagram and preventing them from disabling certain safety settings without parental consent.

However, the judge must approve the deal. The agreement comes during the second week of a jury trial in a federal court in Oakland, California, which posed substantial risks for Meta. The top legal representatives of 29 states demanded substantial financial penalties for the public and court orders to alter the company's operational practices on its platforms.