Meta Settles Teen Social Media Addiction Case for Up to $18B
Meta agrees to pay up to $18 billion and introduce new Facebook and Instagram limits for teens under a US state settlement over addiction claims. The post Meta Settles Teen Social Media Addiction Case for Up to $18B appeared first on TechRepublic .
Meta has reached a settlement worth up to $18 billion in a case alleging that its social media platforms were designed to encourage addictive use among teenagers. The agreement, which covers 47 states and territories, includes new restrictions on how under-18 users can access Facebook and Instagram. A key provision restricts daily usage to two hours, with the option to disable the limit with parental permission.
Other provisions include blockages on access from midnight to 6 a.m., muted notifications from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. during school hours, and hidden like counts. Meta will also implement stronger age-assurance technology, restrict age-inappropriate content, and provide more robust parental controls. If TikTok and YouTube adopt similar safeguards, Meta's daily limit will be reduced to one hour, with an extended overnight block.
The settlement resolves claims that Meta intentionally engineered its platforms to be addictive, misled consumers about safety, and collected data from children without parental consent.
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