Meta settles for $18 billion in lawsuit brought by 29 states over social media harms to children

Meta has reached a $18 billion settlement with 29 U.S. states over allegations that its social media platforms, Instagram and Facebook, were designed to addict children and collect their data without parental consent, in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The lawsuit claimed that Meta knowingly created addictive features on its platforms, despite being aware of the potential harms to young users.

However, by settling the case, Meta does not admit to any wrongdoing, but it does acknowledge the need for industry-wide solutions to protect teens. In return for the settlement, Meta will implement various protective measures over the next ten years, including strengthening privacy settings, improving parental controls, and responding more quickly to harmful content reports.

However, the settlement only becomes fully enforceable if YouTube and TikTok agree to adopt similar protections, such as a one-hour daily time limit, Night Mode, and age-assurance measures. If these platforms fail to comply, Meta will receive an additional $5.3 billion from its settlement. Meta’s Chief Legal Officer, C.J. Mahoney, emphasized the importance of an industry-wide approach to protecting teens on social media platforms.