Why Meta's settlement could be an 'inflection point' for reining in Big Tech
2026 has already brought a wave of setbacks for social media giants as pressure grows on Big Tech from regulators and lawmakers around the world.
Meta has reached a settlement in a landmark lawsuit that will require significant changes to its Instagram and Facebook apps for teenage users. The agreement, which will end a major trial in California and potentially cost the company up to $18bn, includes the implementation of safety features such as daily usage limits and night-time usage blocks for accounts created by teens.
The changes will be set as the default option, marking a shift from Meta's previous opt-in approach to child safety. The settlement comes after California and 28 other US states sued Meta, alleging that the company deliberately designed addictive products that led to mental health issues among young people, including anxiety, depression, and suicide.
Meta's chief legal officer, CJ Mahoney, has called for industry-wide implementation of the new framework, as Meta, YouTube, TikTok, and Snap face thousands of similar lawsuits in the US. While campaigners are not satisfied with the outcome, they acknowledge that the limitations set forth in the agreement are a step towards making the platforms safer for young users.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian US's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- First Thing: Meta agrees to make sweeping changes to apps for teens | Martin Belam theguardian.com
- Meta agrees US$16.68 billion settlement over child addiction claims thethaiger.com
- Meta agrees to multibillion-dollar settlement ending landmark trial theage.com.au
- Meta agrees to multibillion-dollar settlement ending landmark trial smh.com.au
