Meta, US states agree US$16.7bil settlement in landmark teen safety case
The settlement includes new limits on teenagers' use of Facebook and Instagram, with safeguards that will substantially change how the apps work for young people.
Two hours of daily screen time will be the default limit for teenage users of Meta's social media platforms, following a landmark settlement in California. The $16.7 billion agreement, filed in federal court on Wednesday, resolves claims by a coalition of US states that Meta intentionally designed its apps to engage young users, downplay the risks, and unlawfully harvest data from children under 13.
While Meta has not admitted liability, the settlement requires court approval before it takes effect. The deal includes significant changes to how Meta's apps operate for teenagers, such as a built-in nighttime block that locks out access from 12am to 6am, and a default capping of two hours of combined daily usage across Meta's platforms.
Instagram's head, Adam Mosseri, admitted during testimony that safety features were launched without disclosing low adoption rates from early testing. The settlement ends a trial that began in its second week, with witnesses testifying that Meta knew the tools were ineffective and even designed them to fail.
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