Meta reaches $17 billion settlement with states in landmark trial over teen social media addiction

Meta has settled a landmark lawsuit over teen social media addiction with a $17 billion agreement, addressing the claims filed by 47 states. California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey were among the 29 states that initially sued the tech giant in 2023. The deal is one of the largest in state consumer protection history, with Virginia receiving a settlement of $353 million.

Attorney General Jay Jones emphasized that Meta had intentionally deceived the public about the addictive and harmful design features of its platforms, which have adversely impacted youth mental health. The settlement aims to put an end to these dangerous practices and provide meaningful relief to protect children from online harm.

The lawsuit alleged that Meta had contributed to the youth mental health crisis by deliberately designing features that addict children and hiding this information from the public. Additionally, it argued that Meta violated federal laws by collecting data on children under 13 without parental consent. The trial commenced in Oakland, California, with U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers presiding over the proceedings.

Adam Mosseri, Meta's head of Instagram, testified late Tuesday, defending the company's record and progress on child safety and privacy.