Meta's $18bn settlement a landmark victory for US states

Meta has reached a substantial settlement with US states and territories, agreeing to pay up to $18 billion to resolve claims that its platforms, Facebook and Instagram, harmed children. If approved by a California judge, the payment will be the company's largest to date in child safety litigation. The settlement includes a range of changes aimed at better protecting children online, such as default daily time limits and night-time blocks.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized that this is a significant step towards cleaning up an industry that has been detrimental to children. Meta, however, maintains that it has been working to enhance the safety of its platforms for young users. Notably, features like night mode, which blocks notifications during specific hours, will now be enabled by default.

Other measures include a two-hour daily usage limit for teens, hidden likes, and a school mode that mutes notifications during school hours. These changes are part of a broader effort to address concerns raised by states that accuse Meta of violating child privacy laws and targeting young users.